NCJ Number
35077
Date Published
1975
Length
110 pages
Annotation
THE BASIC IDEA OF THE SUBSIDY PROGRAM WAS TO REDUCE PRISON AND JUVENILE COMMITMENTS BY PROVIDING MORE EFFECTIVE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, MAINLY INTENSIVE PROBATION SUPERVISION OF SMALL CASELOADS.
Abstract
THIS CALIFORNIA PROGRAM, WHICH BEGAN IN JULY 1966, HAD ONE UNIQUE FEATURE: PAYMENTS TO THE COUNTIES WERE GEARED WHOLLY TO REDUCING COMMITMENTS - $4000 FOR EACH REDUCTION ACHIEVED. THIS VOLUME, FOURTH IN A SIX-PART EVALUATION REPORT, IDENTIFIES ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES BROUGHT ABOUT BY SHIFTS IN OFFENDER IN INSTITUTIONS AND ON PROBATION CAUSED BY PROBATION SUBSIDY. THE IMPACT ON THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS FIRST DISCUSSED INDIVIDUALLY AND THEN TOGETHER. STUDY FINDINGS REVEALED THAT THE MOST DRAMATIC IMPACTS OF THE SUBSIDY PROGRAM HAVE BEEN A SHARP REDUCTION IN COMMITMENTS AND AN OLDER, MORE AGGRESSIVE POPULATION IN YOUTH AUTHORITY INSTITUTIONS AND A YOUNGER, MORE AGGRESSIVE POPULATION IN ADULT INSTITUTIONS. ANOTHER EFFECT OF THE PROGRAM WAS A WIDESPREAD FEELING IN BOTH STATE AGENCIES THAT PROBATION SUBSIDY HAS ALTERED POPULATIONS AND WORKING CONDITIONS FOR THE WORSE. OTHER SUBSIDY FINDINGS INDICATED THAT PROBATION SUBSIDY WAS NOT AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE INCREASE IN PRISON VIOLENCE AND THAT THE TWO AGENCIES HAD NOT ANTICIPATED OR PLANNED FOR THE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CREATED BY PROBATION SUBSIDY, ALTHOUGH THEY HAD SINCE ADAPTED REASONABLY WELL. FOR THE OTHER VOLUMES IN THIS REPORT, SEE NCJ-035074-76, 78 AND NCJ-036490-91.