NCJ Number
15576
Date Published
1974
Length
264 pages
Annotation
MEASURES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECTS IN REDUCING THE INCIDENCE AND SEVERITY OF DELINQUENCY AMONG PROJECT CLIENTS.
Abstract
CHANGES IN THE NUMBER AND INCIDENCE OF REARRESTS, CHANGES IN THE SEVERITY OF OFFENSES COMMITTED, AND DIFFERENCES IN PROBATION AND COURT DISPOSITIONS BETWEEN THE PROJECT AND CONTROL GROUP CLIENTS ARE THE MEASURES EMPLOYED IN DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECTS. EFFORT WAS MADE TO COLLECT DATA ON CLIENTS' ARRESTS AT THREE INTERVALS - SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO REFERRAL TO THE PROJECT, SIX MONTHS AFTER REFERRAL, AND ONE YEAR AFTER REFERRAL. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT LONG-TERM INTENSIVE COUNSELING IS LESS EFFECTIVE THAN SHORT-TERM INFORMAL COUNSELING IN REDUCING RE-ARRESTS. IT IS CONSIDERED THAT PROJECTS WHICH PROVIDE SIMILAR COUNSELING SERVICES HAVE SIMILAR TREATMENT OUTCOMES, REGARDLESS OF THE COMMUNITY SETTING IN WHICH THEY ARE PROVIDED. THE GENERAL CONCLUSION IS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DIVERSION PROGRAMS OT KEEP MINOR OFFENDERS OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO GOOD EFFECT. A MAJOR PRODUCT OF THIS CLUSTER EVALUATION IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL EVALUATION DESIGN FOR DIVERSION PROJECTS.