DES MOINES COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROJECT - AN ALTERNATIVE TO JAILING

• NCJ Number: 10395
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PROCEDURES AND EFFECTIVENESS OF A PRE-TRIAL RELEASE PROGRAM.

Abstract

THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS PROJECT WAS TO OBTAIN THE RELEASE OF DEFENDANTS WHO WOULD ORDINARILY REMAIN IN JAIL UNTIL TRIAL, EITHER BECAUSE OF A POOR RISK STATUS OR LACK OF FUNDS. IF THE COURT ACCEPTS A RELEASE RECOMMENDATION BY THE PRE-TRIAL RELEASE STAFF A BAIL BOND FORM IS SIGNED BY THE DEFENDANT AND THE STAFF MEMBER. A PERSON RELEASED TO THE PROJECT MUST REPORT EVERY DAY TO HIS COUNSELOR, MAY BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND EDUCATIONAL OR VOCATIONAL CLASSES, OR MAY BE REFERRED TO A VARIETY OF PUBLIC OR PRIVATE AGENCIES FOR SUCH SERVICES AS EMPLOYMENT, PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS, OR MEDICAL TREATMENT. RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT THE PROGRAM INVOLVED NO GREATER RISK OF THE DEFENDANT FAILING TO APPEAR AT TRIAL OR COMMITTING NEW OFFENSES THAN HAVING NO PROGRAM AT ALL. IT THEREFORE FULFILLS THE GOAL OF ACHIEVING SAFE PRE-TRIAL RELEASE OF HIGH RISK DEFENDANTS. ALTHOUGH NOT ALL THE DATA IS IN, INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE RECIDIVISM RATE IS LOWER FOR PROJECT PARTICIPANTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)