PROMISING STRATEGIES IN PROBATION AND PAROLE

• NCJ Number: 46895
• Author(s): E K NELSON; H OHMART; N HARLOW
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 139 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-N1-99-0041
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: University Justice Associates, Inc
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PROGRAM MODELS

Annotation

INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL PROBATION AND PAROLE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES ARE DESCRIBED TO SERVE AS GUIDELINES FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND PLANNERS.

Abstract

BASED ON A LITERATURE SURVEY AND FEEDBACK FROM A LETTER DISTRIBUTED TO STATE PLANNING AGENCIES, LEAA REGIONAL OFFICES, STATE CORRECTIONS ORGANIZATIONS, STATE PROBATION AND PAROLE AGENCIES, AND WIDELY KNOWN COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROJECTS, PROGRAMS IN THE STATES OF CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MINNESOTA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, WASHINGTON, AND WISCONSIN WERE SELECTED FOR SITE VISITS. BOTH URBAN AND RURAL PROGRAMS OPERATING UNDER A VARIETY OF ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS WERE IDENTIFIED, INCLUDING THOSE IN WHICH PROBATION AND PAROLE ARE COMBINED AND THOSE IN WHICH THEY ARE ORGANIZATIONALLY SEPARATE; SPECIAL EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON SERVICES FOR ADULT OFFENDERS, ALTHOUGH PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILES WERE CONSIDERED IF THEY APPEARED READILY ADAPTABLE TO ADULT CORRECTIONS. AGENCIES WHICH OFFER A COMPREHENSIVE AND BALANCED OVERALL PROGRAM, PROVIDING UNUSUALLY EFFECTIVE SERVICES FOR OFFENDERS FROM INTAKE THROUGH FINAL DISCHARGE, AND INCLUDING A GOOD STATISTICAL REPORTING SYSTEM AND A RESEARCH AND EVALUATION COMPONENT WERE PARTICULARLY SOUGHT OUT. FOLLOWING A SECTION WHICH HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES FACING CONTEMPORARY COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, PROMISING STRATEGIES ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE AREAS OF PRETRIAL SERVICES SUCH AS RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE AND DEFERRED PROSECUTION, PROBATION INTAKE, OFFENDER CLASSIFICATION, PAROLE INTAKE, RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES, PARAPROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS, RESTITUTION, AND FIELD SUPERVISION. A BROAD STATEMENT OF RECOMMENDED STRATEGY OR POLICY IS PRESENTED FOR EACH TOPIC, AND ILLUSTRATIONS DRAWN FROM THE PROGRAMS OBSERVED IN SITE VISITS ARE APPENDED WHERE PERTINENT TO THE DISCUSSION. METHODS USED IN PROGRAMS WHICH CAPITALIZE ON THE MOBILIZATION AND USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES ARE EXAMINED, INCLUDING RESOURCE BROKERAGE, PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY, AND DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT; EXAMPLES OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION ARE PROVIDED. PROCEDURES ARE DETAILED FOR ORGANIZING AND DELIVERING SERVICES, DEVELOPING ACCOUNTABILITY, AND MEASURING PERFORMANCE, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL AGENCY PROGRAMS. FOUR COMPREHENSIVE AGENCY PROGRAMS (IN MINNESOTA; KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON; SEATTLE, WASHINGTON; AND CALIFORNIA) WHICH SEEMED OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO BOTH SURVEY RESPONDENTS AND PROJECT STAFF ARE EXAMINED. THE MAJOR PRESCRIPTIVE THEMES DEVELOPED THROUGHOUT THE REPORT ARE SUMMARIZED IN A FINAL CHAPTER, AND COMMENTS UPON POSSIBLE FUTURES OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS ARE OFFERED. APPENDIXES INCLUDE THE ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT STANDARDS OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS AND AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH CHAPTER.