DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - WORK REFERRAL/COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM - AN EVALUATION REPORT

• NCJ Number: 58575
• Author(s): P ROBINSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 32 pages
• Corporate Author: Delaware Governor's Cmssn on Criminal Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A WORK-REFERRAL/COMMUNITY-SERVICE PROGRAM IN THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION ARE EVALUATED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE PROGRAM ARE OFFERED.

Abstract

IN THE WORK-REFERRAL COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM, OFFENDERS WORK FOR STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES TO PAY OFF FINES. THE COMMUNITY-SERVICE COMPONENT IS USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE SENTENCE FOR NONSERIOUS OFFENDERS, WHO PERFORM A SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF WORK FOR A STATE OR COMMUNITY AGENCY, OFTEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH PROBATION. UNLIKE THE WORK-REFERRAL PARTICIPANT, THE OFFENDER SENTENCED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE DOES NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF PAYING OFF THE SENTENCE. BOTH PROGRAMS OPERATE IN ESSENTIALLY THE SAME WAY. IN ONE COUNTY, 1,668 PERSONS PARTICIPATED IN THE WORK-REFERRAL PROGRAM FROM JANUARY 1976 THROUGH MARCH 1978. OF THESE, 772 COMPLETED THEIR SENTENCES, WORKING OFF $310,140 IN COSTS AND FINES; 334 DIRECTLY PAID OFF $62,227 IN COSTS AND FINES; 323 WERE RETURNED TO COURT FOR FAILURE TO COMPLETE THEIR SENTENCE; AND 239 WERE STILL PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM AT THE TIME OF THE EVALUATION. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, 339 PERSONS WERE SENTENCED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE. OF THESE, 201 COMPLETED THEIR SENTENCES, WORKING 4,422 DAYS. IN DECEMBER 1977, THE PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED TO TWO MORE COUNTIES, WHERE 128 PERSONS WERE SENTENCED TO WORK REFERRAL (114 COMPLETIONS) AND 59 WERE SENTENCED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE (29 COMPLETIONS) FROM DECEMBER 1977 THROUGH MARCH 1978. THE PROGRAM APPEARS TO OFFER A WORTHWHILE SERVICE, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION OR SIMPLY AN ADDITIONAL SENTENCING ALTERNATIVE. THE PROGRAM DOES HOLD THE POTENTIAL FOR 'WIDENING THE NETS' BY SENTENCING TO COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFENDERS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED SUSPENDED SENTENCES. AMONG RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THE PROVISION OF GUIDELINES AND TRAINING MATERIALS ON WORK REFERRAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR JUDGES AND PROBATION OFFICERS, AND PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION REQUIRING JUDGES TO SET TIME LIMITS FOR COMPLETION OF COMMUNITY-SERVICE AND WORK-REFERRAL SENTENCES. SUPPORTING DATA AND PLANS FOR FURTHER EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)