NCJ Number
44027
Journal
EVALUATION QUARTERLY Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1977) Pages: 569-586
Date Published
1977
Length
18 pages
Annotation
A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT IN WHICH DEFENDANTS AWAITING TRIAL WERE PROVIDED A TELEPHONE FOR USE IN RAISING BAIL IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED.
Abstract
A TELEPHONE WAS INSTALLED IN THE MEN'S HOUSE OF DETENTION IN NEW YORK CITY IN HOPES THAT IT WOULD HELP PRETRIAL DEFENDANTS RAISE BAIL MONEY AND THEREBY OBTAIN RELEASE. RESULTS OF A 2-MONTH EVALUATION OF THE INNOVATION SHOWED THAT PERSONS WHO USED THE TELEPHONE WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE RELEASED ON BAIL THAN WERE PERSONS WHO WERE DENIED USE OF THE TELEPHONE. ALTHOUGH THE DEMONSTRATION INDICATED THE USEFULNESS OF THE TELEPHONES, THE PROGRAM WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND COURT BLOCKED PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF THE TELEPHONES UNTIL SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT, AT WHICH TIME DETAINED PRISONERS RIOTED AND TELEPHONES WERE INSTALLED IN ORDER TO REDUCE OVERCROWDING. THERE WERE TWO REASONS FOR THE DELAY IN INSTALLING THE TELEPHONES: (1) SEEING THE DEFENDANT'S FAILURE TO APPEAR IN COURT AS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF DELAY, THE COURTS AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PREFERRED TO HAVE DEFENDANTS IN CUSTODY, THEREBY ASSURING THEIR APPEARANCE; AND (2) THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY FELT THAT DETAINMENT OF DEFENDANTS GAVE HIM AN ADVANTAGE IN PLEA BARGAINING. DETAILS OF THE EXPERIMENT SET UP TO EVALUATE THE TELEPHONE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ARE PROVIDED.