Examination of Officials' Perceptions of the Operation of the Polk County Department of Correctional Services (From Community Corrections: A Community Field Approach, P 269-298, 1990, David E Duffee and Edmund F McGarrell, eds. -- See NCJ-121217)

• NCJ Number: 121227
• Author(s): P Stageberg
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 30 pages
• Sale Source: Anderson Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study presents data on case processing and the perceptions of practitioners regarding the impact of the operation of the Polk County Department of Court Services (DCS) (Des Moines, Iowa).

Abstract

Rather than examining only the offenders participating in the four DCS programs (release on recognizance, supervised release, probation, and residential facilities), the study combined some of the attributes of prior community-based corrections (CBC) and juvenile diversion evaluations, making use of the goal-oriented approach of CBC evaluations while placing them in the system-oriented framework often used in the evaluation of diversion programs. Diversion, "net-widening," and public protection are examined in detail. Although the archival data suggested only a small reduction in detention stemming from the development of release-with-services, a majority of respondents perceived that it significantly reduced detention. Practitioners' responses were often apparently dependent on their employment and departmental affiliation. The findings indicate the importance of communication among segments of the justice system to reduce the chance of misperception about programs' effectiveness. 1 note, discussion questions.