NCJ Number
30990
Date Published
1974
Length
108 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DISCUSSES THE PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A COURT-BASED DIAGNOSTIC CENTER TO PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS FOR FELONY OFFENDERS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR PROBATION.
Abstract
ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM ARE FELONY OFFENDERS ALREADY BEING SUPERVISED BY PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS. THE CENTER WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION (IN ADDITION TO PRE-SENTENCE REPORTS) TO AID IN SENTENCING A DEFENDANT OR IN HELPING SUPERVISING PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS PLAN PROGRAMS FOR THE PEOPLE ON THEIR CASELOADS. THE RESULTS OF A USERS' SURVEY INDICATED THE NEED FOR MORE FORMAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN USERS OF THE CENTER'S SERVICES AND STAFF REGARDING USER EXPECTATIONS AND WHAT THE EVALUATIONS CAN AND CAN NOT PROVIDE. IN GENERAL, THE SURVEY REVEALED NEARLY TOTAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE CENTER'S SERVICES. HOWEVER, THE SUPPORT OF THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES WAS SEEN AS CRITICAL TO CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE FELONY DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM SINCE THE CENTER IS FUNDED PRIMARILY BY THE CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER AND THOSE WHO ARE REFERRED FOR EVALUATION. THIS REPORT ALSO INCLUDES THE SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS OF A RESEARCH STUDY ON THE DIFFERENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF IMPACT OFFENDERS BASED ON DATA COLLECTED ON THESE AND OTHER OFFENDERS REFERRED TO THE DIAGNOSTIC CENTER FOR EVALUATION. NARRATIVE PROFILES ON IMPACT OFFENDERS ARE INCLUDED (BOTH DEMOGRAPHIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DATA). THE EXTENSIVE APPENDIX CONTAINS A COPY OF THE 1974 PROGRAM RESEARCH EVALUATION REPORT (INCLUDING A COPY OF THE USER OPINION QUESTIONNAIRE) AND SAMPLE OFFENDER EVALUATIONS AND PRE-SENTENCE REPORTS.