NCJ Number
48416
Date Published
1976
Length
132 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PROJECT DESIGNED TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE TO SECURE DETENTION FOR ALLEGED DELINQUENT JUVENILES IS EVALUATED FOR THE 8-MONTH PERIOD, JULY 8, 1975 TO MARCH 1, 1976.
Abstract
THE PROJECT ASSIGNS ALLEGED DELINQUENTS TO THEIR OWN OR SURROGATE HOMES UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN OUTREACH WORKER. OBJECTIVES WERE TO SERVE A CLIENTELE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE HELD IN SECURE DETENTION UNTIL FORMAL DISPOSITION OF THEIR CASES, TO SAVE THE COMMUNITY APPROXIMATELY 50 PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT IT WOULD NORMALLY COST TO DETAIN THEM IN A SECURE FACILITY, AND TO DEMONSTRATE THAT IT IS FEASIBLE TO SUPERVISE MANY CHILDREN OUTSIDE OF SECURE DETENTION. THIS EVALUATION WAS UNDERTAKEN FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: (1) TO DOCUMENT PROGRAM PROGRESS IN MEETING STATED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES; (2) TO IDENTIFY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN PROGRAM OPERATION; (3) TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT MIGHT REMEDY IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS; AND (4) TO PROVIDE DECISIONMAKING BODIES WITH INFORMATION NECESSARY TO RENDER JUDGMENTS WITH REGARD TO FUNDING. THE PRIMARY RESEARCH INSTRUMENT WAS A CLIENT DATA FORM DEVELOPED THROUGH CONSULTATION WITH PROJECT STAFF. PROJECT ADMINISTRATION IS EXAMINED WITH EMPHASIS ON PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT. A DISCUSSION OF CLIENT INTAKE AND TERMINATION IS FOLLOWED BY DETAILS ON CLIENT PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING NEW POLICE CONTACTS AND CHARGES, RETURNS TO SECURE DETENTION, AND A SUMMARY OF SUCCESSES AND FAILURES. PROGRAM SUPERVISION AND SERVICES ARE DISCUSSED AND SYSTEM IMPACT IS ASSESSED IN TERMS OF THE USE OF SECURE DETENTION, THE FINANCIAL IMPACT, AND JUDICIAL DISPOSITION INFLUENCE. A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS IS PRESENTED OF THREE HOME DETENTION PROJECTS, WITH ATTENTION TO PROJECT AND CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS, SUCCESSES AND FAILURES, AND SYSTEM IMPACTS. PROJECT PROBLEMS AND POLICY ISSUES ARE IDENTIFIED IN RELATION TO PROJECT CASELOADS, THE USE OF SECURE DETENTION, CLIENT SUPERVISION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT, LOCATION AND LOGISTICS, AND STAFF TRAINING. FINALLY, PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR EACH OUTREACH SERVICE AND OUTCOME OBJECTIVE ARE DETAILED. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE A CLIENT DATA FORM, THE PROBATION OFFICER QUESTIONNAIRE, EXCERPTS FROM THE QUESTIONNAIRE, AND A NOTE ON STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES. GRAPHIC AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)