NCJ Number
65644
Date Published
1976
Length
68 pages
Annotation
THIS IS THE FINAL EVALUATION REPORT ON THE VICTIM'S ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF THE CLARK COUNTY JUVENILE COURT AUTHORITY (NEVADA), A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO FACILITATE RESTITUTION PAYMENTS BY JUVENILES.
Abstract
THE VICTIM'S ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH RAN FROM OCTOBER 1, 1975, THROUGH JUNE 30, 1976, IN ITS INITIAL FUNDING, WAS INTENDED TO FACILITATE COURT-ORDERED RESTITUTION TO VICTIMS INJURED OR DAMAGED THROUGH ILLICIT JUVENILE ACTS. FOR THE PROGRAM TO ATTAIN ITS GOAL, IT WOULD PRODUCE A GREATER PROPORTION OF PAYMENTS RENDERED FASTER THAN BEFORE THE PROGRAM. IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY PROGRAM IMPACTS, A SAMPLE (N=71) OF JUVENILES INVOLVED IN RESTITUTION PAYMENTS BEFORE THE PROGRAM WAS COMPARED WITH A SAMPLE (N=129) INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM AS TO THE PATTERN OF PAYMENTS. RESULTS SHOWED THAT UNDER THE PROGRAM, A GREATER PROPORTION OF THE TOTAL RESTITUTION OWED HAD BEEN PAID AND RESTITUTION PAYMENTS WERE FASTER. IN COMPARING SUBJECT CHARACTERISTICS TO PATTERNS OF RESTITUTION PAYMENTS, IT WAS SHOWN THAT THOSE MOST FAITHFUL IN THEIR PAYMENTS WERE LIKELY TO BE EMPLOYED, MALE, WITH A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE, CONVICTED OF A LESS SERIOUS CRIME, HAD A FATHER IN LOWER-MIDDLE-CLASS AS COMPARED TO UPPER-CLASS OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVITY, AND WERE VIEWED BY PARENTS AS 'ESSENTIALLY GOOD.' A MODEL OF THE RESTITUTION PROCESS IS DEVELOPED FROM THE FINDINGS. ADDITIONALLY, INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ON THE PUBLIC RELATIONS AND WORK PLACEMENT EFFORTS OF THE PROGRAM. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA, ADDITIONAL FINDINGS, AND SAMPLES OF MATERIALS USED IN THE EVALUATION STUDY. DOCUMENTS IN THE SERIES ARE NCJ 65642-47.