About The John P. Craine House (Craine House) is in its 35th year as a unique, court-ordered alternative sentencing, work-release program dedicated to serving non-violent female offenders with pre-school children. In lieu of jail or prison, the program allows women from Marion and surrounding counties to serve their sentences with their children. Craine House allows the women to live with dignity in a safe, structured, supportive environment, preserving the mother-child relationships, while they develop skills to improve their lives and better maintain their families. Craine House is one of only six such facilities in the U.S. and the only one in the Midwest. It is a nonprofit work-release facility which provides a court-ordered program offering a chance for women convicted of non-violent offenses to reside with their preschool age children while they serve their sentences and develop job, educational, parenting and relationship skills, build their self-esteem and prepare to return to the community able to ensure a better future for themselves and their children. The goals of Craine House are to break the cycles of abuse, poverty and crime. Children of offenders, or those who live in homes with drug abuse and domestic violence, are reportedly as high as 70% more likely to become perpetrators or victims of domestic violence and much more likely to commit violent crimes. Children of mothers in prison are five times more likely than their peers to end up in prison. Craine House has attained a 20% recidivism rate — making our community safer and enabling young women who have made poor choices in the past to become responsible parents and more productive members of the community. Nationally the recidivism rate is about 60%. In Indiana the recidivism rate is about 35%. Programs and services for the children improve their sense of security and social skills and reduce their risk of substance abuse, behavioral disorders, academic failure, delinquency and violence. Craine House looks forward to a newer and larger facility in which more women and children can be served and more programs can be offered. We also look forward to more community awareness and involvement and more volunteers. There are many ways in which your skills, time, money and interest can help us. Goals Provide a secure and structured environment in which women serve their sentences for non-violent felonies. Provide a unique and positive environment in which preschool children live with their mothers, thus increasing the strength of the mother-child bond while mothers develop enhanced parenting skills and children develop learning and social skills. Offer educational opportunities, such as on-site GED classes, and encourage job readiness skills. Address and provide help for substance abuse and anger management issues. Provide emotional and counseling support, including life skills and awareness of available community resources. Provide on-going support and services for both mothers and children after leaving Craine House. Downloads: Craine House 2011 Annual Report