NCJ Number
69913
Date Published
1980
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This 1980 followup study reviewed the District of Columbia's Citizen Complaint Center (CCC) to insure that it was meeting its goals and objectives.
Abstract
Created to offer alternatives to criminal prosecution, where appropriate, for resolving intrafamily and other disputes, CCC's operations were reviewed to help clarify its goals and objects, to develop case management and processing systems to clarify current methods of cooperation with other agencies, and to prepare an operating manual for future use. The study found several deficiencies: (1) CCC's structure still lacks clearly defined goals and operational guidelines; (2) an extreme shortage of clerical assistance exists, as well as a lack of minority volunteers; and (3) physical arrangements at CCC make it very difficult for both clients and staff to operate efficiently. The study recommended that the center conduct joint meetings of the cooperating agencies to address program needs and problems, establish goals and operational guidelines, increase efforts to recruit minority volunteers, provide immediate information to visitors, and develop a more rapid and ready referral process. Moreover, the center should conduct further study of the screening process, train paralegal screeners in dispute resolution techniques and begin crosstraining of the staff. Finally, additional clerical assistance should be hired, basic information should be maintained on each individual seeking center services, and CCC's goals, objectives, and methods should be reexamined. An appendix lists publications and documents reviewed in the study.