NCJ Number
15678
Date Published
1974
Length
49 pages
Annotation
EVALUATES PROJECT TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL COURTS WITH A COMMUNITY RESOURCE WHICH CAN PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO INDIGENT DEFENDANTS IN ORDER THAT A NON-BAIL ALTERNATIVE OF PRE-TRIAL RELEASE MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.
Abstract
OTHER OBJECTIVES INCLUDE RECOMMENDATION TO THE APPROPRIATE MAGISTRATE THAT CERTAIN DEFENDANTS BE RELEASED ON NOMINAL OR REDUCED BAIL ON THE CONDITION THAT THE DEFENDANT COMPLY WITH THE COMMUNITY RELEASE AGENCY'S (CRA) CHECK-IN REQUIREMENTS AND PROVISION OF DIRECT SERVICES, SUCH AS COUNSELING, TO CRA CLIENTS, AS WELL AS REFERRAL TO OTHER AGENCIES EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT, AND FAMILY COUNSELING. IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LACK OF STATISTICAL AND CASELOAD INFORMATION, RELIANCE WAS PLACED ON INTERVIEWS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF AGENCIES WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE DIFFICULTIES CRA HAS BEEN CONFRONTED WITH. EVALUATION RESULTS ANALYZE CRA'S CAPACITY IN SEVERAL AREAS, SUCH AS SCREENING DEFENDANTS FOR POST-ARRAIGNMENT SUPERVISED RELEASE, DEVELOPING ADEQUATE RESOURCES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR SUPERVISION OF DEFENDANTS, SECURING RELEASE OF DEFENDANTS BELIEVED TO BE QUALIFIED FOR SUPERVISED RELEASE, AND SECURING APPEARANCE OF CLIENTS IN COURT AS REQUIRED. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FORMAL JURISDICTIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRA AND THE COMMUNITY BAIL AGENCY SO THAT THE TWO CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH A MINIMUM OF DUPLICATED EFFORT IN THEIR FUNCTIONS OF PRE-TRIAL RELEASE.