NCJ Number
49560
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A DADE COUNTY, FLA., PROGRAM OF WEEKEND COMMUNITY SERVICE SENTENCES FOR ADULTS CONVICTED OF MINOR OFFENSES IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM BUILDS ON THE CONCEPT OF WEEKEND SENTENCING FOR MINOR OFFENSES, SUBSTITUTING WEEKEND COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK FOR WEEKEND INCARCERATION. THE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE NEEDED SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, TO PRECLUDE EXCESSIVE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SERIOUS AND NONSERIOUS OFFENDERS, TO SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY, TO GIVE JUDGES AN ALTERNATIVE TO JAIL SENTENCING, AND TO AVOID EMBARRASSMENT FOR OFFENDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. MOST PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE BLUE-COLLAR MALES CONVICTED OF TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS OR MISDEMEANORS. AN EFFORT IS MADE TO ASSIGN PARTICIPANTS (MOST OF WHOM VOLUNTEER FOR THE PROGRAM) TO WORK CONSISTENT WITH THEIR SPECIAL SKILLS. IN ADDITION TO WORK ASSIGNMENTS ON COUNTY PROJECTS, A NUMBER OF JOBS (E.G., COUNSELING DELINQUENTS) HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE PROGRAM. PARTICIPANT RESPONSE TO THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN POSITIVE. THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROBLEM REGARDING THE ATTITUDES OF WORK SUPERVISORS AND COWORKERS TOWARD OFFENDERS, BUT USUALLY THE OFFENDERS' PERFORMANCE ON THE JOB ELIMINATES THE PROBLEM. STRICT ENFORCEMENT IS USED TO COUNTER 'NO-SHOWS' AND IRRESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF SOME PARTICIPANTS. A COST ANALYSIS PERFORMED AS PART OF AN OVERALL EVALUATION SUGGESTS THAT THE PROGRAM RESULTS IN CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS TO THE COMMUNITY. (LKM)