NCJ Number
51017
Date Published
1978
Length
56 pages
Annotation
THE INTENSIVE SERVICE PROJECT OF THE PHILADELPHIA, PA., COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION AND PAROLE PROVIDES INTENSIVE SUPERVISION FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF A SEXUAL OFFENSE OR THOSE EXHIBITING PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE PROJECT WAS NOMINATED AS A POSSIBLE EXEMPLARY PROJECT. THIS VALIDATION VISIT REPORT PRESENTS THE HISTORY OF THE PROJECT, DESCRIBES ITS DAILY OPERATIONS, REVIEWS EVALUATIONS CONDUCTED BY PROJECT STAFF, AND CRITIQUES PROJECT OPERATION. THE PROJECT SERVES BOTH PROBATIONERS AND PAROLEES, AND REFERRALS MAY COME FROM THE COURT, FROM THE PAROLE AGENCY DIVISION, OR FROM A GENERAL FIELD UNIT. THE PROJECT DIFFERS FROM GENERAL PROBATION IN THE AREAS OF CLIENT ASSESSMENT, LEVEL OF SUPERVISION, AND STAFF. THOSE ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM ARE GIVEN A BATTERY OF SCREENING TESTS, AND THEIR NEEDS ARE CAREFULLY ASSESSED. STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR INTEREST IN THIS TYPE OF WORK, AND A NUMBER OF SPECIAL TRAINING COURSES HAVE BEEN HELD FOR STAFF MEMBERS. A BREAKDOWN IS INCLUDED OF TYPES OF OFFENSES COMMITTED BY THE 1,237 GENERAL OFFENDERS AND 155 SEXUAL OFFENDERS HANDLED BY THE PROJECT. THE VALIDATION REPORT CRITICIZES RECORDKEEPING PROCEDURES. IT IS STATED THAT ANNUAL DATA HAVE BEEN EXTRAPOLATED FROM DATA FOR ONLY 2 MONTHS, WHICH HAD TO BE GATHERED BY THE STAFF ESPECIALLY FOR THE VALIDATION TEAM. THE LOWER RECIDIVISM RATES REPORTED BY THE PROJECT ARE ALSO CRITICIZED, IN THAT THE TYPE OF CLIENT HANDLED BY THE PROJECT GENERALLY HAS A LOWER RECIDIVISM RATE COMPARED TO GENERAL PROBATION AND PAROLE CLIENTS. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT 'INTENSIVE' CLIENTS ARE AVERAGING ONLY 1.7 CONTACTS WTTH PROJECT AGENTS PER MONTH. APPENDIXES CONTAIN LETTERS RELATING TO THE VALIDATION OF THE PROJECT, SAMPLES OF PROJECT FORMS, AND A DRAFT OF THE APPLICATION FOR EXEMPLARY PROJECT STATUS. (GLR)