Hawai'i's Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE): An Implementation Analysis

• NCJ Number: 233991
• Author(s): Richard Kiyabu; Joachim Steinberg; Minako Yoshida
• Date Published: May 2010
• Length: 65 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Hawai's at Manoa Public Admin Program
• Sale Source: University of Hawai's at Manoa Public Admin Program
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report describes how Hawai'i's Opportunity Probation With Enforcement (HOPE) was implemented, using a network approach model, whose key strategies are aligning perspectives and managing interaction costs.

Abstract

This approach provided multiple examples of actions taken to align perspectives and manage interaction costs. This is reflected in the surveys of the involved professionals. Using the strategies of the network approach proved to be successful in achieving commitments and involvement from the actors necessary for the program's implementation. The survey data are used to identify some areas that could receive additional improvements from the professionals' perspectives. HOPE probation involves swift and certain, but relatively mild, sanctions (jail time) for each detected probation violation. When implemented properly, HOPE results in greatly reduced drug use by probationers, fewer missed probation appointments, and reduced probation revocations and arrests for new crimes. One recommendation for improving implementation is to create official summaries of the monthly HOPE meeting for distribution among the court staff. The court staff is responsible for the scheduling of hearings, and problems in the schedules would jeopardize the fundamental component in HOPE probation, i.e., swift and certain consequences. Another potential area for improvement is in examining the process by which the modification hearings are scheduled, establishing a system that would decrease the interaction costs for those with the responsibility for their scheduling. This area of the implementation was conducted successfully in Hawai'i, but could pose a more difficult challenge in other jurisdictions where the short notice scheduling of the court calendars has been identified as a potential problem for a successful implementation. 30 references and appended motion to modify terms of probation form, affidavit of a probation officer, benchmarks for success, data on the effects of HOPE (missed appointments), and data on urinalyses