EVALUATION OF CRIMINAL RECIDIVISM IN PROJECTS PROVIDING REHABILITATION AND DIVERSION SERVICES IN NEW YORK CITY

• NCJ Number: 44023
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 68 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 283-305
• Author(s): R FISHMAN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 23 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Northwestern University; Williams and Wilkins Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: SUMMARY OF PART OF THE REPORT 'AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT ON CRIMINAL RECIDIVISM OF NEW YORK CITY PROJECTS PROVIDING REHABILITATION AND DIVERSION SERVICES, A FINAL REPORT TO THE MAYOR'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL,' MARCH 31, 1975

Annotation

THE IMPACT OF THE NEW YORK CITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL'S REHABILITATION PROJECTS ON THE RECIDIVISM OF CLIENTS IS EVALUATED.

Abstract

THE GOAL OF THE COUNCIL'S PROJECTS WAS TO PROVIDE REHABILITATION-ORIENTED SERVICES TO OFFENDERS, EX-OFFENDERS, AND, IN SOME CASES, 'PREOFFENDERS.' PARTICULAR EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON SERVICES TO MALES (JUVENILES, YOUTHS, AND YOUNG ADULTS), BLACKS AND HISPANICS, EX-CONVICTS, THE POOR AND UNDEREDUCATED, DRUG ADDICTS, AND FIRST OFFENDERS. THE PROJECTS RELIED PRIMARILY ON COMBINATIONS OF REMEDIAL EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING OR REFERRAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PROVIDED BY MUNICIPAL OR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND BY COMMUNITY GROUPS. THE EVALUATION IS BASED ON CLIENT DATA FROM 18 OF THE COUNCIL'S 53 PROJECTS. OF 20,924 INTAKE FORMS SUBMITTED BY THE 18 PROJECTS 2,860 ARE USED IN THE ANALYSIS OF CLIENT ARREST RECORDS. FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED ON THE EXTENT OF RECIDIVISM AMONG CLIENTS, THE SEVERITY OF OFFENSES FOR WHICH CLIENTS WERE ARRESTED, AND THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECTS ON CRIME. THE PROJECTS ARE CONCLUDED TO HAVE FAILED IN THEIR REHABILITATION EFFORTS, PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO YOUNG CLIENTS AND TO VIOLENT CRIME. FAILURE IS INDICATED BY BOTH THE MAGNITUDE AND SEVERITY OF CRIMINAL RECIDIVISM AMONG PROJECT CLIENTS, AS WELL AS BY COMPARISON OF PROJECT OUTCOMES WITH OUTCOMES FOR A CONTROL GROUP. OF 2,860 CLIENTS, 1,182 WERE ARRESTED A TOTAL OF 2,072 TIMES DURING THE 12 MONTHS AFTER THEY ENTERED THE PROJECTS. OF THE 2,072 ARRESTS, 605 WERE FOR VIOLENT CRIMES. REHABILITATION FAILURE APPEARS TO BE UNRELATED TO PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.