TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES TO STREET CRIME (TASC) AN EVALUATION FRAMEWORK AND STATE OF THE ART REVIEW

• NCJ Number: 32497
• Author(s): M A TOBORG; D R LEVIN; R H MILKMAN; L J CENTER
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 256 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-NI-99-0062
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Lazar Institute
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM

Annotation

THIS PROGRAM IDENTIFIES DRUG ABUSERS WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, REFERS THEM TO TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND MONITORS THEIR PROGRESS DURING TREATMENT.

Abstract

AS OF OCTOBER 1975, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD PROVIDED 21.8 MILLION DOLLARS TO SUPPORT 36 TASC PROJECTS. THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE CURRENT STATE OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING TASC AND DESCRIBES THE ADDITIONAL EVALUATION NEEDED TO FILL IMPORTANT GAPS IN THAT KNOWLEDGE. PAST STUDIES AND ORIGINAL DATA ANALYSIS ARE SUMMARIZED FOR PROJECT OPERATIONS, OUTCOMES, AND EXTERNAL FACTORS AFFECTING THEM. MAJOR FINDINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS: CURRENTLY ACTIVE TASC CLIENTS EXPERIENCED AN EIGHT PER CENT REARREST RATE DURING PROGRAM PARTICIPATION; APPROXIMATELY 55 PER CENT OF TASC'S CLIENTS ARE RECEIVING TREATMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME; AND LITTLE ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM IMPACTS HAS BEEN CONDUCTED. THE MOST SERIOUS GAP IN THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE WAS FOUND TO BE THE LACK OF FOLLOW-UP OUTCOME ANALYSES OF FORMER TASC CLIENTS AS COMPARED WITH A CONTROL GROUP. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS AN 87-ITEM BIBLIOGRAPHY, A DISCUSSION OF ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING THE TASC PROGRAM, DATA SOURCES FOR TASC ANALYSIS, AND PAST PROPOSALS FOR COMPREHENSIVE TASC EVALUATION, AMONG OTHER THINGS. FOR OTHER TASC WORKING PAPERS IN THIS SERIES, SEE NCJ-32493-96 AND NCJ-34057.