Evaluation of Client Specific Planning - An Alternative to Incarceration

• NCJ Number: 94214
• Author(s): H H Brownstein; S F Jacobs; K M Jamieson; V D Manti; K M Resnick
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 99 pages
• Corporate Author: New York State
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

During the first 22 months of its operation, Client Specific Planning (CSP), offered by the New York Center for Sentencing Alternatives in Onondaga County did not offer valuable alternatives to incarceration.

Abstract

The CSP service develops alternative sentences for offenders otherwise likely to be sentenced to prison or lengthy jail terms. At the request of a defense attorney, a CSP case developer prepares a package of supervised community-based sanctions to present to the court as an alternative sentencing plan. The way in which the New York Center operated CSP in Onondaga County prevented the service from reaching its potential. The philosophy of the New York Center was wholly adversarial, precluding the possibility of cooperation with components of the system other than defense attorneys. The system must change if it is to reduce incarceration. CSP providers need to raise awareness of the service by cooperating more with members of the criminal justice community. CSP providers also need to take more responsibility for seeing that CSP plans are provided to the court and probation departments and that they are carried out. The CSP service should maintain its advocacy role. Footnotes, tabular data, and an appendix listing adult conditions of probation in the county are supplied.