DIFFICULTIES OF ASSESSING RESULTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION PROJECTS TO REDUCE CRIME REPORT TO CONGRESS BY THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES

• NCJ Number: 13138
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 74 pages
• Corporate Author: US Comptroller General
• Sale Source: Azimuth Inc.; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STUDY INDICATING THAT LACK OF CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS, ABSENCE OF STANDARDIZED DATA FOR SIMILAR PROJECTS, AND DIFFERING EVALUATION TECHNIQUES PRECLUDED ASSESSMENT OF LEAA DRUG, ALCOHOL, AND JUVENILE TREATMENT PROJECTS.

Abstract

LACK OF CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTABLE READMISSION RATES PREVENTED DETERMINATION OF THE SUCCESS OF ALCOHOL DETOXIFICATION CENTERS. IN ASSESSING SIMILAR YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS, DIFFERING SUCCESS RATES WERE APPARENT, BUT WITHOUT STANDARD RANGES OF EXPECTED SUCCESS, EVALUATION WAS CONSIDERED IMPOSSIBLE. DATA DEVELOPED BY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE ON GROUP HOMES FOR JUVENILES SHOWED THAT 45 PERCENT OF THE PARTICIPANTS WERE RELEASED FROM THE HOMES FOR POOR BEHAVIOR, 65 PERCENT HAD PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN REFERRAL TO JUVENILE COURT ONCE THEY LEFT THE HOMES, AND 36 PERCENT WERE SENT TO PENAL OR MENTAL INSTITUTIONS. LACK OF CRITERIA PRECLUDED DETERMINATION OF THE ACCEPTABILITY OF THESE PERCENTAGES. DATA GATHERING PROCEDURES IN DRUG COUNSELING CENTERS WAS NONEXISTENT OR DEEMED INACCURATE. THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT LEAA DEVELOP STANDARDS FOR EVALUATION AND DATA GATHERING IN SIMILAR PROJECTS AND REQUIRE IMPLEMENTATION BY PARTICIPATING STATES.