PRETRIAL INTERVENTIONS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (FROM CHALLENGES TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM - THE PERSPECTIVES OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY, -1979, BY THEODORE R SARBIN - SEE NCJ-61387)

• NCJ Number: 61388
• Author(s): R ROESCH
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 33 pages
• Corporate Author: Human Sciences Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE POTENTIAL INVOLVEMENT AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF PSYCHOLOGISTS IN PRETRIAL INTERVENTION, PARTICULARLY BAIL REFORM AND PRETRIAL DIVERSION, ARE CONSIDERED.

Abstract

THE INVOLVEMENT OF PSYCHOLOGISTS IN INDIVIDUAL OFFENDER TREATMENT HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN EFFECTIVE. COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY AIMS AT A BROADER INVOLVEMENT OF PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE REFORM OF SOCIAL SYSTEMS AFFECTING INDIVIDUALS. ONE AREA IN NEED OF MODIFICATION IS PRETRIAL INTERVENTION. METHODS FOR SECURING PRETRIAL RELEASE ARE TAINTED BY ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION IN THE BAIL SYSTEM. THOSE PRETRIAL RELEASE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO INCREASE USE OF RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE OR PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROFIT-SEEKING BAILBONDING SYSTEM ARE FAVORED. PSYCHOLOGISTS COULD HELP TO CHANGE THE PREVAILING ECONOMIC INCENTIVE SYSTEM BY DEVISING SYSTEMS OF BEHAVIOR PREDICTION THAT COULD ASSURE A HIGH PROBABILITY OF COURT APPEARANCE BY CERTAIN DEFENDANT TYPES. WHILE LEGAL ISSUES SUCH AS DUE PROCESS AND THE RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL INTERFERE WITH VOLUNTARY DIVERSION TO COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AFTER CONVICTION, MANY BENEFITS FROM THIS TYPE OF DIVERSION CAN RESULT. PSYCHOLOGISTS COULD DEVELOP EFFECTIVE EVALUATION DESIGNS TO MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS PRETRIAL DIVERSION SUMMARIES OF EVALUATIONS OF VARIOUS PRETRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED, ALONG WITH CRITIQUES. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)