NCJ Number
118026
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 51 Issue: 3 Dated: (June 1989) Pages: 38-42
Date Published
1989
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Alcoholic offenders who took part in an intensive probation program operated by the Lucas County (Ohio) Adult Probation Department in Toledo had a significantly lower rate of criminal arrests and convictions than did a comparison group.
Abstract
The alcohol behavioral program was called Sobriety Through Other People (STOP) and was initiated by probation staff in 1981 in response to the high number of alcoholics under supervision. Participants are offenders who score high on an established alcohol scale and who have been convicted of a probable offense. They must attend at least three Alcoholics Anonymous meetings per week, attend biweekly peer-group meetings at the probation department, meet with the program coordinator once a month for an evaluation, and submit to weekly urinalysis. Almost all clients are referred to an outside treatment agency during their probation terms. An evaluation of the 102 treatment cases and a matched comparison group of 101 cases showed that the treatment group had more high-risk offenders. The treatment group members received significantly more services, had a higher rate of revocations and absconding, and had fewer arrests and convictions of all types. Results showed the feasibility of choosing offenders with special needs and effectively providing increased services. Tables.