NCJ Number
125831
Date Published
1990
Length
131 pages
Annotation
Following a review of major issues and trends in criminal justice during the 1980's, the report focuses on programs of the Nassau County, New York, Probation Department's Criminal Division.
Abstract
Major issues and trends in criminal justice during the 1980's encompassed crime trends, the criminal justice response, new directions for probation, and intensive supervision. In Nassau County, efforts have been made to improve the overall probation supervision program, pretrial services, victim services, and community services. The major challenge faced by the Probation Department is to maintain quality probation while confronting long-term problems and trends. In 1989, the department's investigation program was able to complete its objectives with existing staff and the use of overtime. Total investigation assignments increased by 12.6 percent, from 7,922 in 1988 to 8,918 in 1989. Investigations with court dispositions rose by 17.4 percent to 9,111. There was a significant rise in the number of driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenders in the investigation program. Of 5,194 cases sentenced to probation by Nassau County courts, almost one-third were DWI cases. The supervision of sentenced criminal offenders in the community continues to be the largest single program operated by the Nassau County Probation Department. The supervision program attempts to prevent crime by reducing probationer recidivism. Special service units in the department's Criminal Division focus on pretrial services, intensive supervision, and electronic surveillance detention. 47 tables.