NCJ Number
48487
Date Published
1976
Length
39 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF THE CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT IN NEW YORK IS PRESENTED, DISCUSSING THE DEPARTMENT'S ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, AND SERVICES AS OF JUNE 1976.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM ANALYSIS AND REVIEW (PAR) PROCESS IS A SYSTEMATIC MEANS OF IDENTIFYING A PROBATION DEPARTMENT'S PROGRAMMATIC STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THROUGH AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH DEPARTMENT PRACTICES CONFORM WITH SPECIFIED STATE STANDARDS. THE PAR PROCESS CONSISTS OF TWO ELEMENTS: LOCAL PROBATION DEPARTMENT'S SELF-EVALUATION OF ITS PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE; AND INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ADMINISTRATION, PERSONNEL, AND PROBATION SERVICES BY THE STATE DIVISION OF PROBATION. THE CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT DETERMINED ITS CONFORMITY WITH A TOTAL OF 147 STANDARDS. THE DIVISION PAR TEAM LIMITED ITS EXAMINATION TO 93 STANDARDS. CLIENTELE OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT ARE LOCATED IN DENSELY POPULATED CITIES AND VILLAGES, AND THE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYS 36 PERSONS. OF THIS NUMBER, 19 EMPLOYEES ARE IN THE PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY, 5 ARE PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND 12 ARE NONPROFESSIONALS. A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECT KNOWN AS THE PROBATION REHABILITATION OFFENDER PROGRAM IS OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE ADULT MISDEMEANANT AND JUVENILE DIVERSION, PRETRIAL RELEASE, AND JAIL PROGRAMS (COUNSELING, RECREATION, EDUCATION, AND WORK RELEASE). THE PURPOSE OF INTAKE IS TO SCREEN REFERRALS FROM POLICE, PARENTS, SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMPLAINANTS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE PETITIONED IMMEDIATELY TO FAMILY COURT, OPENED FOR COUNSELING AND POSSIBLE ADJUSTMENT WITHOUT COURT ACTION, OR REFERRED TO AN APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY AGENCY FOR SERVICES. THE PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION AND REPORT (CALLED PREDISPOSITION REPORT FOR JUVENILES) INVOLVES THE GATHERING, VERIFICATION, AND COMPILATION OF A DEFENDANT'S LEGAL AND SOCIAL HISTORY. THE FUNCTION OF PROBATION SUPERVISION IS TO MONITOR PROBATIONER COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS OF PROBATION IMPOSED BY COURTS AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO PROBATIONERS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR. A 48-HOUR SECURE HOLDOVER DETENTION FACILITY FOR JUVENILES BETWEEN 7 AND 16 YEARS OF AGE AND TWO NONSECURE DETENTION FACILITIES OR FOSTER HOMES ARE OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PAR PROCESS ARE SUMMARIZED ACCORDING TO GOALS THAT RELATE TO ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICES. A PLAN OF ACTION RESULTING FROM THE PAR PROCESS TO IMPROVE THE DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTED, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF CLIENTS SERVED BY THE DEPARTMENT ARE DESCRIBED. (DEP)