NCJ Number
47373
Date Published
1978
Length
37 pages
Annotation
THE OPERATIONS, COSTS, AND BENEFITS OF AN LEAA-FUNDED VICTIM-WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN TUCSON, ARIZ., ARE EVALUATED.
Abstract
AT THE END OF ITS SECOND YEAR OF OPERATION, THE PIMA COUNTY PROGRAM HAD ESTABLISHED AN EXPERIMENTAL WITNESS ALERT SYSTEM, TOGETHER WITH OTHER PROCEDURES FOR KEEPING WITNESSES INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF THEIR CASES AND OF THE NEED FOR THEIR APPEARANCE IN COURT. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES (CRISIS INTERVENTION, COUNSELING, TRANSPORTATION, DAY CARE, SOCIAL SERVICE REFERRALS) TO WITNESSES, VICTIMS, AND OTHERS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE; CONDUCTS PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS; AND CARRIES OUT RESEARCH. ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM COSTS AND BENEFITS (QUANTIFIABLE AND QUALITATIVE) DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PROGRAM IS COST-BENEFICIAL, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF THE QUALITATIVE BENEFITS OF THE WITNESS ALERT COMPONENT. INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS SUPPORT THIS CONCLUSION. POLICY CHANGES THAT COULD IMPROVE THE PROGRAM'S COST-BENEFIT RATIO (E.G., EXPANSION OF THE WITNESS ALERT SYSTEM, INVOLVEMENT IN WITNESS SCHEDULING, GREATER USE OF VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES) ARE SUGGESTED. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)