NCJ Number
84884
Date Published
1977
Length
121 pages
Annotation
The study investigates the Camden County, N.J., TASC project's operational aspects: identification of potential clients; diagnosis and referral; relations with drug abuse treatment agencies, the community, and the criminal justice system; effectiveness of tracking/monitoring; cost analysis; and comparison with other diversion/intervention programs.
Abstract
The TASC project, run by Camden's Probation Department, does not serve the offender population that the national TASC program was designed to serve. There is no active screening of arrestees, and the eligibility rules together with the availability of less demanding alternatives effectively eliminate those offenders normally targeted for TASC. Although many of the Camden TASC clients have a history of various drug abuse problems, the Camden TASC is a low-risk program, dealing mainly with clients who have been charged with minor drug offenses (i.e., possession of marijuana). Most of the clients do not have a current drug problem warranting treatment; consequently, most clients are counseled by the TASC probation officers or participate in education programs. Nearly all clients are charged with drug offenses (such as possession) and few are charged with drug-related offenses (such as retail theft). The TASC project's focus and methods are heavily influenced by its location in the Probation Department and its association with the more general pretrial intervention services administered by the department. Although the project maintains a good relationship with the prosecutor and judiciary, these criminal justice personnel do not differentiate between TASC and the Probation Department. Public defenders view TASC with indifference since the program had nothing to offer most of their clients. Tables and footnotes are given. Study questionnaires and correspondence are appended.