NCJ Number
18523
Date Published
1975
Length
42 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT OF THIS PRETRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR YOUTHFUL FIRST OFFENDERS CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANORS OR CERTAIN THIRD DEGREE FELONY OFFENSES, WHICH WAS TO REDUCE COURT CONGESTION AND STIGMATIZATION OF FIRST OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THIS PROGRAM INCLUDED PERSONAL COUNSELING, VOCATIONAL COUNSELING, JOB DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. IF AN OFFENDER WAS SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM, A CONTRACT DEFERRING PROSECUTION FOR 18 MONTHS WAS MADE. IF THE DEFENDANT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROJECT, NO CHARGES WERE INSTITUTED AGAINST HIM. THE PROGRAM MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS WERE THE REDUCTION IN PROBATION OFFICER CASELOAD, AND COMPARISON OF THE PROJECT SUCCESS RATE WITH THE CORRESPONDING PROBATION SUCCESS RATE. THE PROBATION CASELOAD REDUCTION WAS 3.4 PERCENT, A BIT SHORT OF THE 5 PERCENT GOAL. THE PROBATION SUCCESS RATE WAS 93.7 PERCENT, COMPARED TO THE PROJECT RATE OF 86.2 PERCENT. MOST PROJECT OBJECTIVES WERE ACHIEVED. THE 86.2 PERCENT SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION RATE AND 7.1 RECIDIVISM RATE COMPARED FAVORABLY TO THESE RATES FOR PROJECTS ACROSS THE NATION. RESULTS OF A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS, A POST-PROGRAM SURVEY OF CLIENTS, AND AN OPINION QUESTIONNAIRE ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENTS, A CLIENT INFORMATION PROFILE, AND INFORMATION ON POST-PROGRAM RECIDIVISTS ARE APPENDED.