Atkins House Residential Program

• Atkins House is a residential community corrections center for women offenders. The  goal of Atkins House in York, Pennsylvania, is to provide information, skill development and ongoing support to help women offenders lead law-abiding, productive and responsible lives -free of crime, drugs and alcohol.
  
  
• Women are referred to Atkins House by the Department of Corrections or by Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. They reside at one of two residences and find employment in the community.
  
  
• When women first come to Atkins House from the state correctional institutions they have a short orientation period during which they perform 25 hours of community service, obtain a photo identification card and a social security card and apply for medical assistance.
  
  
• After this is completed, the women begin to look for a job. The case managers assist the women in the job search and are often able to help them find jobs because they have developed good relationships with area employers.
  
  
• The case managers help the residents develop goal plans and meet with them on a weekly basis to see what kind of progress they are making on their goals and to offer help, advice and support towards reaching those goals.
  
  
• After the residents find jobs they are required to turn in their checks to Atkins House. Their checks are deposited into a Resident Account. Each week the residents can request up to 25% of their income for personal use. Another 25% is kept for room and board. This is a requirement of the Department of Corrections, and the total amount of room and board from the residents is subtracted from the total per diem amount in the Atkins House monthly billing to D.O.C. Twenty-five percent of their income is put towards court costs and fines. These amounts are sent to counties where they owe the fines at the end of the month.
  
  
• Residents put 25% of their income into savings. This money is used to obtain an apartment or other living accommodations when they leave Atkins House.
  
  
• Residents usually stay at Atkins House for six months, but may leave sooner depending upon their parole status.