NCJ Number
54719
Date Published
1977
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF 11 PROGRAMS IN NEW ORLEANS, LA., FUNDED BY THE LEAA, ARE DISCUSSED, AND FACTORS THAT DETERMINE WHETHER A PROGRAM WILL MEET ITS OBJECTIVES OF REDUCING CRIME ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
THE 11 PROGRAMS PERTAINED TO PRISON REHABILITATION, PRISON DETOXIFICATION, DRUG ENFORCEMENT, MANPOWER DEPLOYMENT, HIGH-INTENSITY STREET LIGHTING, PUBLIC HOUSING, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ENFORCEMENT, A COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY, VOLUNTEER PROBATION, A YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU, AND COURT DIVERSION. ALTHOUGH ALL 11 PROGRAMS INITIATED ACTIVITIES, ONLY 4 BECAME OPERATIONAL AS DESCRIBED IN THE GRANT APPLICATION. MOST PROGRAMS THAT BECAME OPERATIONAL MET THEIR PROCESS OBJECTIVES, AND 3 OF THE 11 PROGRAMS ACHIEVED THEIR GOALS. FIVE OF THE PROGRAMS SHOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING; THEY EITHER VIOLATED CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT OR HAD CEASED TO FUNCTION. THERE WAS NO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INSTITUTIONALIZATION UNDER LEAA STATE BLOCK FUNDS AND THE DEGREE OF PROGRAM SUCCESS. THREE PROGRAMS PERFORMED EXCEPTIONALLY WELL FOR ALL OR SUBSTANTIAL PARTS OF THE GRANT PERIOD (COURT DIVERSION, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ENFORCEMENT, AND THE YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU). FOUR FACTORS WERE DETERMINED TO BE CRUCIAL IN PROGRAM SUCCESS: (1) THE HOST OR PARENT AGENCY MUST BE INTERESTED IN IDEAS UPON WHICH A PROGRAM IS BASED; (2) THE OPERATING DIRECTOR MUST PARTICIPATE IN THE WRITING OF THE GRANT; (3) THE PLANNING DOCUMENT MUST BE SPECIFIC TO MINIMIZE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION PROBLEMS; AND (4) ALL INTERAGENCY ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE CONCLUDED PRIOR TO THE SUBMISSION OF THE GRANT APPLICATION. LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE PROGRAMS ARE COMPARED TO A HIGH-IMPACT ANTICRIME PROGRAM FUNDED IN EIGHT CITIES. BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE OF BOTH THE TARGET AREA PROGRAM AND THE HIGH-IMPACT PROGRAM, ISSUES RELEVANT TO THE EVALUATION OF LEAA PROJECTS ARE IDENTIFIED. SUPPORTING DATA ON THE NEW ORLEANS PROGRAMS ARE TABULATED. (DEP)