NCJ Number
35785
Date Published
1975
Length
319 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION OF THE MARIN COUNTY (CA) TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES TO STREET CRIME (TASC) PROGRAM THROUGH EXAMINATION OF PROGRAM COMPONENTS, STAFF PERFORMANCE, AND DECISION MAKING PROCESSES.
Abstract
THE TASC CONCEPT WAS CREATED AS A MEANS OF BREAKING THE TYPICAL DRUG USER'S STREET CRIME-ARREST-STREET CRIME PATTERN BY IDENTIFYING DRUG USERS SHORTLY AFTER THEIR ARREST AND REFERRING THEM TO APPROPRIATE TREATMENT MODALITIES. THE EVALUATION OF THE MARIN COUNTY SYSTEM WAS A FOUR STAGE EFFORT TAKING ALMOST A YEAR TO ACCOMPLISH. THE FIRST STAGE WAS AN ASSESSMENT OF SUCCESS IN MEETING GOALS OF REDUCING DRUG USAGE AND DRUG-RELATED CRIMES WHILE INCREASING CLIENT EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT LEVELS THROUGH ANALYSIS OF DATA ON EACH CLIENT COMPLETING THE PROGRAM. STAGE TWO WAS DEVOTED TO EVALUATING STAFF BEHAVIOR THROUGH OTHER INDIVIDUALS' PERCEPTIONS OF THEM. THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS WAS EXAMINED BY USING A SEMI-STRUCTURED FORMAT TO INTERVIEW THE PROJECT'S 11 EMPLOYEES. THE FOURTH AND FINAL STAGE MEASURED TASC SUCCESS AGAINST CURRENT RESEARCH. THE MAJOR CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM THE SYNTHESES OF ALL INFORMATION IS THAT TASC IS A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE SYSTEM, AND THAT IT HAD A FAVORABLE EFFECT ON THOSE IT SERVES. THE EVALUATORS RECOMMEND CONTINUED FUNCTIONING IN ITS PRESENT FORM.