NCJ Number
163574
Date Published
1996
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This chapter addresses the need for professionals in community corrections to agree on their mission and goals, and to decide on the most appropriate indicators of successful performance.
Abstract
This paper proposes that the mission of community corrections is to assist the court and parole board in assessing candidates' suitability for community placement; and, once offenders are placed in the community, to enforce court-ordered sanctions, protect the community, assist offenders to change, and support the rights of their victims. Methods and activities to achieve the goals contained in the mission statement include: conduct presentence investigations; monitor police arrest and investigation reports, victim restitution and court fees, and community service; conduct personal contacts and other monitoring; verify employment, school performance, and peer associations; test for drug and alcohol use; and inform victims of potential contact or danger and of victim services. A table showing Goals and Methods/Activities also lists Performance Indicators, among them: timeliness of revocation and termination hearings; validity of classification/prediction instrument; number of arrest and technical violations during supervision; and extent of victim satisfaction with services and department. Table, note, references