NCJ Number
30688
Date Published
1974
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THIS PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESOURCES COMMITTED TO THE PUBLIC INTOXICANT AND TO INCREASE THE RESOURCES DEVOTED TO THE TREATMENT OF THE PUBLIC INTOXICANT.
Abstract
UNDER THIS PROJECT, CROSSROADS CENTER STAFF WERE CALLED BY POLICE WHENEVER A PUBLIC INTOXICANT WAS FOUND. THIS COMMUNITY TREATMENT CENTER PROVIDES MEALS, MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES, COUNSELING, PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING AND OTHER REFERRALS, AND JOBS TO THOSE MEN PICKED-UP AS PUBLIC INTOXICANTS. POLICE RESPONSIBILITY ENDED WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE CROSSROADS VAN. THE REHABILITATIVE EFFECT OF THIS PROGRAM WAS EVALUATED BY FOLLOWING UP A SAMPLE OF 432 MEN (57 PER CENT) ADMITTED TO THE CENTER IN 1973 (THE SECOND FULL YEAR OF PROGRAM OPERATION) AND RATING THEM ACCORDING TO EIGHT CLASSIFICATIONS OF SUCCESS RANGING FROM 'HIGH POTENTIAL' TO 'PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS'. A TOTAL OF 176 MEN WERE CLASSIFIED AS HAVING EITHER A 'HIGH POTENTIAL' OR A 'POTENTIAL' FOR SUCCESS; 122 WERE CLASSIFIED AS NEEDING A STRUCTURING ENVIRONMENT TO INSURE ABSTINENCE FROM ALCOHOL ('MAINTENANCE') OR 'UNSUCCESSFUL'. COMPARED TO A BASE YEAR OF 1970 WHEN THE PROJECT DID NOT EXIST, TOTAL DOLLAR SAVINGS (ARREST, INCARCERATION, SENTENCING) RESULTING FROM OPERATION OF THE CROSSROADS CENTER WERE 832,693 AFTER DEDUCTING THE 1973 COSTS OF THE PROGRAM. THE EVALUATOR RATED THIS PROGRAM 'AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS', AND SUGGESTED THAT IT MAY HAVE EVEN EXCEEDED ITS OBJECTIVES AND PROVIDED SERVICES BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE PROGRAM.