NCJ Number
46867
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 395-400
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A TIME-SERIES EVALUATION MODEL IS DESCRIBED AS IT WILL BE APPLIED TO A RAPE COUNSELING AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM. THE IMPORTANCE OF EVALUATION TO PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION IS EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
THE RAPE COUNSELING PROGRAM IS A THREE-PART PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE VICTIM THROUGH CRISIS AND/OR LONG-TERM COUNSELING, TO EDUCATE POLICE AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL AS WELL AS OTHER PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH RAPE VICTIMS, AND TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT RAPE. ALL THREE PARTS OF THE PROGRAM ARE INTERRELATED; BY OFFERING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES, RAPE REPORTS AND PROSECUTIONS SHOULD INCREASE. IN ADDITION TO USING THE REPORT/PROSECUTION RATIO AS A FINAL OUTCOME MEASURE, A NUMBER OF INTERVENING VARIABLES LEND THEMSELVES TO EVALUATION. THESE INCLUDE BETTER INTERAGENCY COOPERATION, BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF LEGAL AND MEDICAL PROCESSES, INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEMS OF VICTIMS, BETTER TREATMENT OF RAPE VICTIMS, AND A HIGHER PROPORTION OF RAPISTS PROSECUTED. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EVALUATION RESTS WITH THE AGENCY DIRECTOR WHO WILL USE THE EVALUATION IN DETERMINING PROBLEM AREAS, RESHAPING THE PROGRAM, AND IN APPLICATIONS TO THE AGENCY'S FUNDING BOARD. THE EVALUATION IS INTENDED PRIMARILY FOR USE AT THE END OF A YEAR'S OPERATION. TO EVALUATE FINAL PROGRAM OUTCOME, THE AGENCY OBTAINED REPORT/PROSECUTION RATIOS FOR THE 5 YEARS PRIOR TO PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION (1970-1974). THE REGRESSION OF THE PROSECUTION RATIO WAS FOUND IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE BEST FIT OR BEST SLOPE THROUGH THE 5 PRECEDING YEARS, AND THIS FIGURE BECAME THE EXPECTED VALUE FOR THE 1975 PROSECUTION RATIO. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS EXPECTED VALUE AND THE ACTUAL PROSECUTION RATIO CAN THEN BE DEFINED AS PROGRAM EFFECT. OTHER VARIABLES WILL BE MEASURED TO EXPLAIN CHANGES OVER THE PROGRAM YEAR AND TO HELP IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR CHANGES IN PROSECUTION RATIOS. THE AGE, RACE, AND INCOME OF THE VICTIM, AND WHETHER THE VICTIM KNEW THE RAPIST WILL BE USED AS ADDITIONAL INPUT VARIABLES TO DETERMINE POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL WHO REPORTS RAPES. SUBJECTIVE RESPONSES OF WOMEN SERVED BY THE PROGRAM AND VICTIM RESPONSES TO A POSTTREATMENT QUESTIONNAIRE WILL ALSO AID IN PROGRAM EVALUATION. FIGURES ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)