NCJ Number
59732
Date Published
1979
Length
32 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT OF THE TAZEWELL COUNTY, ILL., DEFERRED PROSECUTION PROGRAM DESCRIBES THE PROGRAM DESIGN AND SUMMARIZES AND EVALUATES PROGRAM RESULTS FROM 1974 TO 1978.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO FORMAL CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS FOR SELECTED FIRST OFFENDERS BY DIVERTING THEM INTO ORGANIZED COMMUNITY SUPERVISION PROGRAMS THAT OFFER QUALITY AND INTENSIVE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPERVISION, SERVICE DELIVERY, AND VICTIM COMPENSATION. BECAUSE THE PROGRAM RELIEVES THE FORMAL SYSTEM OF PRESENT AND ANTICIPATED PRESSURES (AT LOWEST POSSIBLE COST), THE SYSTEM IS BETTER ABLE TO DEAL WITH SERIOUS AND REPEAT OFFENDERS MORE EFFECTIVELY. AFTER INITIAL SCREENING, THE ALLEGED OFFENDER IS SENT TO THE DEFERRED PROSECUTION PROGRAM WHERE A MORE THOROUGH SCREENING IS UNDERTAKEN. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE'S ATTORNEY AND A CITIZENS' ADVISORY BOARD INCLUDE AGE (THE INDIVIDUAL MUST BE AT LEAST 13 YEARS, WITH NO MAXIMUM AGE LIMIT), RESIDENCY (THE INDIVIDUAL MUST LIVE IN TAZEWELL COUNTY OR THE SURROUNDING AREA), NATURE OF THE OFFENSE (ELIGIBLE OFFENSES INCLUDE ALL CRIMINAL AND DELINQUENT OFFENSES, BOTH FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS, EXCEPT ALL CLASS X FELONIES, VIOLENT CRIMES, AND SALE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES), AND PRIOR ARREST RECORD (NO OFFENDER WITH A PATTERN OF CRIMINAL HISTORY OR ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR IS ADMITTED). WHEN A CLIENT IS ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM, A VOLUNTARY SERVICE FEE IS REQUESTED TO HELP DEFRAY COSTS OF THE PROGRAM TO THE COUNTY. IF THERE IS A VICTIM, THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENDER TO MAKE RESTITUTION TO THE VICTIM. FROM 1974 TO 1978, A TOTAL OF $46,623.39 WAS PAID TO VICTIMS. A MAJORITY OF CLIENTS IN THE PROGRAM (52 PERCENT) ARE 17 TO 20 YEARS OLD, AND MALES MAKE UP 67.5 PERCENT OF THE PARTICIPANTS. OF THE 950 CASES REFERRED TO THE PROGRAM, 140, OR 46.4 PERCENT, WERE ACCEPTED. THE PROGRAM IS CONSIDERED SUCCESSFUL, WITH A RECIDIVISM RATE OF ONLY 2.6 PERCENT. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)