FLORIDA - DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION - DIVISION OF STATE PLANNING - EVALUATION OF THE CRIMINAL LAW INTERN PROGRAM - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - FEBRUARY 1979

• NCJ Number: 63470
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 9 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Florida Bureau of Criminal Justice Assistance
• Corporate Author: Arthur Young and Co
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CONTAINS AN EVALUATION OF THE CRIMINAL LAW INTERN PROGRAM FOR THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE (BCJA) WHICH FUNDS THE PROGRAM IN FLORIDA.

Abstract

TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INTERN PROGRAMS, IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1971, HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND MERIT CONTINUED FUNDING, BCJA EMPLOYED A CONSULTING FIRM TO EVALUATE THE QUALITY OF THE PROGRAMS BASED ON THEIR OBJECTIVES; TO PROVIDE CLINICAL/INTERNSHIP TRAINING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR SENIOR AND JUNIOR LAW STUDENTS; TO ENCOURAGE LAW GRADUATES TO ENTER PUBLIC SERVICE CAREERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; AND TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO STATE ATTORNEYS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, AND OTHER JUDICIAL AGENCIES. AFTER INTERVIEWING INTERNS, CONSULTANTS DETERMINED THAT ALL PROGRAMS WERE AVAILABLE TO ANY INTERESTED STUDENTS WITH BASIC ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS. MOST INTERNS AND PARTICIPANTS RATED THE PROGRAMS FAVORABLY, WITH A MAJORITY OF INTERNS (65.9 PERCENT) SUBSEQUENTLY SEEKING JOBS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND 56.3 PERCENT ACTUALLY LOCATING JOBS. A SURVEY OF STATE ATTORNEY AND PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES REVEALS THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE ASSISTANCE FROM THE PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF PROVIDING INTERNS TO OFFICES WHICH WOULD NOT RECEIVE THEM OTHERWISE DUE TO OFFICE LOCATION. IN ADDITION, INTERN COMMENTS SUGGESTED PROGRAM CHANGES IN THE AREAS OF INTERN RESPONSIBILITY, PROGRAM LENGTH, PREPARATORY COURSES, SUPERVISION OF INTERNS, AND CREDIT. AN ANALYSIS OF FUTURE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY INDICATES THAT IT WOULD COST $12,000 TO CONTINUE THE TWO PROGRAMS AFTER CUTS IN EXPENDITURES. SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAMS WERE ALSO IDENTIFIED. OVERALL, THE PROGRAMS REPRESENT AN IDEAL USAGE OFF LEAA FUNDS IN THAT LEAA INITIATES THE PROGRAMS, GIVING THEM TIME TO GROW AND GAIN ACCEPTANCE; SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED WITH LOCAL MONIES. SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS ARE PRESENTED. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)