NCJ Number
78235
Date Published
1981
Length
65 pages
Annotation
This manual describes the Community Service Restitution (CSR) Program of Brookline, Mass. and provides a comprehensive outline of operating procedures which are applicable to other programs.
Abstract
The manual is intended to help in the establishment of new programs and the strengthening of existing programs. CSR became fully operational in November 1979. The 9-member staff serves 26 communities in the area and has made significant strides in attaining program goals. The primary goal was to place approximately 1,200 offenders, primarily young adult misdemeanants, in community environments during the 14 months of the project. Of the 1,200 offenders, 900 are expected to complete all assigned hours. The 75 percent successful completion rate indicates that $144,000 in service will be returned to the community. The majority of CSR goals focus on the community as the immediate beneficiary. Additional objectives are to establish a positive line of communication and understanding between the community and the criminal justice system and to improve services within the system. Community acceptance is essential to the success of any restitution program. To ensure that information reaches as many people as possible, extensive use of the media is recommended. The target population with which most programs work consists of adult offenders, both male and female, age 17 and older. Appropriateness for CSR placement is determined by the nature of the offense, the prior record and background of the offender, the extent of the victim's injury, and the offensiveness of the case. Community service restitution may be used in any of the following stages of the criminal justice system: pretrial, postconviction, and postcommitment. The manual also addresses support services, placement, monitoring, CSR job descriptions, and management tools. Sample forms are included.