NCJ Number
61796
Date Published
1979
Length
93 pages
Annotation
THE ORLEANS PARISH CRIMINAL SHERIFF'S RESTITUTION SHELTER/DIAGNOSTIC UNIT IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED, HIGHLIGHTING PROJECT EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY.
Abstract
RESTITUTION HAS GAINED WIDESPREAD ACCEPTANCE AS A SANCTION IMPOSED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REQUIRING THE OFFENDER TO MAKE PAYMENT OF MONEY OR SERVICE TO THE ACTUAL OR SUBSTITUTE VICTIM OF CRIME. IN RECOGNITION OF THIS TREND, NEW ORLEANS, LA., PROJECT BECAME OPERATIONAL IN JUNE 1977 TO EXPAND COMMUNITY-BASED SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES BY OPERATING A FACILITY WHICH PROCESSED 120 TO 150 PERSONS, WITH 75 PERCENT OF THE OFFENDERS MAKING MONETARY PAYMENTS TO VICTIMS AND 25 PERCENT MAKING SYMBOLIC OR SERVICE RESTITUTION. IN ADDITION, OFFENDERS RECEIVED BASIC EDUCATIONAL OR VOCATIONAL TRAINING WHEN APPROPRIATE. FROM JUNE 1977 TO DECEMBER 1978, THE SHELTER ACCEPTED 174 INDIVIDUALS, THEREBY EXCEEDING THE GOAL BY 16 PERCENT, AND THE DIAGNOSTIC UNIT SCREENED 414 INDIVIDUALS, 27 PERCENT MORE THAN THE STATED GOAL. MOREOVER, THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT INCREASED GRADE LEVELS MORE THAN 100 PERCENT ABOVE STATED OBJECTIVES. AS A RESULT OF THE PROGRAM, 54 VICTIMS WERE DIRECTLY COMPENSATED. ALTHOUGH MANY OF THE STATED PROGRAM GOALS WERE ACHIEVED IN A COST EFFECTIVE MANNER, GREATER EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON RESTITUTION PAYMENTS TO VICTIMS, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO YOUNGER PARTICIPANTS, AND MORE ACCURATE RECORDS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED. IN ADDITION, A RESTITUTION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED, A PROGRAM FACILITY SHOULD BE SECURED, AND USE OF AN INMATE'S SAVINGS TO PAY FOR CRIMINAL NEGLECT SHOULD BE EXPLORED. FOOTNOTES AND TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN A WORKFLOW CHART, QUESTIONNAIRES, SAMPLES FORMS, AND RULES AND REGULATIONS.