Systematic Evaluation of the Alabama Fifteenth Circuit Court's Pre-Trial Diversion Program

• NCJ Number: 84796
• Author(s): R R Evans
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 133 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services; Not Available Through National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Document Loan Program
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Auburn University - doctoral dissertation

Annotation

The study evaluated the Alabama Fifteenth Circuit Court's Pretrial Diversion Program in terms of selection and treatment by interviewing random samples of 27 first offenders approved for the program and 25 who were rejected.

Abstract

Samples included blacks and whites of both sexes. From information obtained through interviews, the Environmental Deprivation Scale (EDS) and the Malpractice Behavior Record (MBR) were scored (16 items each) for the time when the subjects' first offenses were committed (pretest) and for the time of the interview (posttest). Statistical analyses were conducted on pretest and posttest scores and change score distributions for those accepted and rejected and for those rejected and on probation, rejected and given suspended sentences or nolle prosse, and rejected and sent to prison. Analyses of the EDS and MBR statistics indicated that there were significant differences between the pretest (selection) and the posttest (intervention) of the rejected and accepted groups. However, when the group that was rejected and sent to prison was excluded, there were no significant differences. The group sent to prison represents a different target population due to the environmental deprivation of the prison setting. Tables and references are included. (Author abstract modified)