NCJ Number
142243
Date Published
1991
Length
60 pages
Annotation
This report describes a non-experimental evaluation of the pretrial electronic monitoring program with home detention of 224 offenders in Marion County (Indiana) between July 1988 and July 1989. Data set archived by the NIJ Data Resources Program at the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data, located at URL http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/nacjd.
Abstract
Data came from staff interviews, observation, and program records and included perceptions of the program, client data, and the results of computer calls to clients' homes. Results revealed that the programs three main goals were to ensure appearance at trial, to protect public safety, and to improve the use of available jail resources. Results revealed that the two factors that are important correlates of program success are living arrangement and criminal history. Clients living with one or both parents were much better risks than those living with other relatives. Findings also indicated that pretrial home detention with electronic monitoring can be a viable alternative to jail, but its usefulness is limited. Programs must recognize the differences between pretrial and postconviction clients and use designed that account for these differences. Additional findings and recommendations, figures, tables, and 29 references