NCJ Number
40248
Date Published
1978
Length
182 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT PRESENTS A COST ANALYSIS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION OF PRETRIAL PROGRAMS COMPLYING WITH STANDARDS PROPOSED BY THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
Abstract
THIS REPORT WAS PREPARED TO SUPPLEMENT THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION (NAC) ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS' 'CORRECTIONS REPORT' BY PROVIDING COST INFORMATION NEEDED BY STATE AND LOCAL DECISIONMAKERS TO IMPLEMENT SIMILAR STANDARDS IN THEIR OWN JURISDICTIONS. FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE PRETRIAL PROGRAM MOVEMENT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COST IMPLICATIONS FOR OPERATING A COMPREHENSIVE PRETRIAL SYSTEM ARE PRESENTED. TWELVE EXISTING PRETRIAL PROGRAMS WERE ANALYZED TO DETERMINE THE DOLLAR FIGURE REQUIREMENTS FOR MANPOWER AND RESOURCES. A MODEL BUDGET FOR A HYPOTHETICAL PRETRIAL SYSTEM OPERATING IN A PREDOMINANTLY URBAN COUNTY IS THEN PRESENTED. AN ANALYSIS OF SOME VARIATIONS IN THE MODEL AS WELL AS AN ASSESSMENT OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SELECTED SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES (E.G., PROBLEMS OF WILLFUL FAILURE TO APPEAR AND VIOLATIONS OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE STIPULATIONS) EXPAND THE APPLICATIONS OF THE MODEL BUDGET. A TABLE ASSESSING THE ESTIMATED AVERAGE COSTS FOR A PRETRIAL SERVICES AGENCY OPERATING IN CONFORMITY WITH CORRECTIONS STANDARDS REVEALS THAT THE AVERAGE COST PER RELEASED DEFENDANT RANGES FROM APPROXIMATELY $80 TO $160. THE FINAL SECTION ASSESSES OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PRETRIAL RELEASE ACTIVITIES (PARTICULARY THE 'OPPORTUNITY' COSTS TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND TO SOCIETY) AND OTHER EXTERNAL COSTS. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF BAIL REFORM, TYPOLOGY OF COSTS, THE REPORT'S METHODOLOGY, THE FEDERAL PRETRIAL SERVICES AGENCY, SELECTED DATA ON PRETRIAL SERVICES OPERATIONS, RESEARCH NEEDS, AND DATA REQUIREMENTS.