NCJ Number
44503
Date Published
1976
Length
252 pages
Annotation
AN EXAMINATION OF THE EVALUATION METHODOLOGY FOR PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE PROJECT SET OUT TO: (1) EVALUATE THE INTERNAL VALIDITY OF EACH STUDY BY DETERMINING WHETHER THE RESEARCH USED APPROPRIATE METHODS AND DATA TO DEAL WITH THE QUESTIONS ASKED; (2) EVALUATE THE EXTERNAL VALIDITY OF EACH STUDY BY DETERMINING WHETHER THE RESULTS WERE CREDIBLE AND GENERALIZABLE IN LIGHT OF OTHER RESEARCH FINDINGS; (3) EVALUATE THE POLICY UTILITY OF THESE STUDIES WHEN TAKEN IN COMBINATION; AND (4) PROVIDE DECISIONMAKERS, INCLUDING FUNDERS, WITH AN ASSESSED RESEARCH BASE THAT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR PLANNING FUTURE PROGRAMS AND EVALUATIONS. THE STUDY IS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS: ONE CONCERNS THE TECHNICAL REEVALUATION OF EXISTING STUDIES; THE OTHER PRESENTS THE CONCERNS OF POLICYMAKERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO EVALUATION EFFORTS. PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS ARE STILL IN A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD WITHIN A LARGER SYSTEM, WHICH IS ITSELF IN A STATE OF FLUX, IN RELATION TO THE DEMANDS, ASPIRATIONS, AND NEEDS OF THE OFFENDER AND SOCIETY. WHILE PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS ARE NOT THE DEFINITIVE ANSWER TO THE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THEY CLEARLY ARE A SIGNIFICANT ANSWER. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN INDEX ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).