NCJ Number
26308
Date Published
1974
Length
25 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT OF THIS PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES A COURT STRUCTURE THAT ENABLES YOUTHFUL, NON-VIOLENT FIRST OFFENDERS TO AVOID LENGTHY PRETRIAL DELAYS, AND SUPPLIES COUNSELING AND SOCIAL SERVICE INTERVENTION FOR OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE GOALS OF THE ARD-HELP PROGRAM ARE TO REDUCE COURT BACKLOG AND DELAYS IN PROCESSING OF CRIMINAL CASES, AND TO ADDRESS THE GENERAL SOCIAL PROBLEM OF DRUG ABUSE. THE ACCELERATED REHABILITATIVE DISPOSITION COURT WAS INTENDED TO PROMOTE THE FIRST GOAL, WHILE THE HELP PROGRAM WAS TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL COUNSELING NEEDS OF CLIENTS. THE EVALUATION ACTIVITIES CONSISTED OF AN ASSESSMENT OF CRIMINAL RECIDIVISM OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, SITE VISITS TO THE PROGRAM AND TO ARD COURT, INTERVIEWS WITH PROGRAM STAFF, AND THE ACCUMULATION OF MONTHLY PROGRAM REPORTS. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE ARD COURT IS EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING DELAYS IN THE PROCESSING OF CRIMINAL CASES. ARREST-TODISPOSITION TIME IN ARD COURT WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD THE COMPARABLE TIME IN PHILADELPHIA'S COMMON PLEAS COURT. THE RECIDIVISM RATE OF ARD PARTICIPANTS WAS VERY LOW, ONLY ONE TO TWO PERCENT. THE HELP PROGRAM WAS FOUND TO DISPLAY A HIGH DEGREE OF EFFORT IN PROVIDING SOCIAL AND TREATMENT SERVICES TO CLIENTS. ALTHOUGH ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED AS A DRUG TREATMENT COUNSELING AND REFERRAL AGENCY, IT HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE COUNSELING ON SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, DRUG AND ALOCOHOL PROGRAMS. THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR HELP CLIENTS WAS 2.2 PERCENT. TABLES OF RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)