NCJ Number
40199
Date Published
1976
Length
32 pages
Annotation
A SIX-MONTH EVALUATION OF THE GOAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE COURT REFERRAL PROGRAM (CRP), WHICH PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE SENTENCE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE TO ADULT MISDEMEANANTS AND JUVENILES REFERRED BY JUVENILE COURTS.
Abstract
THIS POST-CONVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A BENEFICIAL AND COST EFFECTIVE CORRECTIONAL ALTERNATIVE FOR ADULT MISDEMEANANTS AND JUVENILE COURT REFERRALS. ITS OBJECTIVE IS TO PLACE 10 OFFENDERS A MONTH AS VOLUNTEERS IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES, WITH AN OVERALL SUCCESS RATE OF 80 PERCENT AMONG THE REFERRED OFFENDERS DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD. THE EVALUATION ASSESSED CRP EFFORTS IN TERMS OF: 1) PROJECT OPERATIONS, PLACEMENTS, SUCCESS OF PLACEMENTS, AND AGENCIES RECEIVING PLACEMENTS, AND 2) PROJECT IMPACT ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, I.E., USE OF THE PROGRAM BY THE COURTS, COST EFFECTIVENESS, EFFECT ON RECIDIVISM, AND REPORTS FROM COMMUNITY AGENCIES RECEIVING PLACEMENTS. THE EVALUATION SHOWED THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING A COST EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE WAS NOT MET, SINCE MOST SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES ARE LESS EXPENSIVE. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO DIRECTLY ASSESS THE BENEFITS OF THE CRP. THE OBJECTIVE OF A PLACEMENT RATE OF 10 REFERRALS PER MONTH WAS PARTIALLY MET.