NCJ Number
67468
Date Published
1978
Length
53 pages
Annotation
A MODEL EVALUATION APPROACH FOR ASSESSING THE OPERATION OF VIRGINIA DISTRICT ADULT PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICES IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE MODEL APPLIES ONLY TO THE EVALUATION OF PROGRAM OPERATIONS AND NOT TO CLIENT OUTCOMES. IT IS INTENDED TO GIVE THE ADMINISTRATOR INFORMATION THAT INDICATES WHETHER OPERATIONS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. SIX QUANTITIVE AND FOUR QUALITATIVE CRITERIA ARE USED AS PROGRAM PERFORMANCE MEASURES. THE QUANTITATIVE MEASURES ARE COST PER CLIENT-YEAR, STAFF-CLIENT RATIO, OFFICER-CLIENT RATIO, STAFF TURNOVER RATE, PERCENT OF PAROLE/PARDON CASES IN COMPLIANCE WITH MINIMUM STANDARDS, AND PERCENT OF PROBATION CASES IN COMPLIANCE WITH MINIMUM STANDARDS. THE QUALITATIVE CRITERIA ARE LEVEL OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO CLIENTS, SCOPE OF RECORDKEEPING SYSTEMS, QUALITY OF RECORDS, AND VALIDITY OF REPORTED DATA. QUALITATIVE CRITERIA CAN BE MEASURED THROUGH AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CHIEF PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICER (EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE), CONTACTS WITH OTHER STAFF MEMBERS, AND AN INSPECTION AND VALIDATION OF CASE RECORDS AND ADMINISTRATIVE FILES. AFTER THE OFFICE VISIT, THE EVALUATION TEAM ANALYZES THE DATA AND PREPARES AN EVALUATION REPORT. THIS REPORT IS ORGANIZED BROADLY BY HIGHLIGHTS AND DESCRIPTIVE, ANALYTICAL, AND ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES. DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING FORMS/TABLES ARE PRESENTED, ALONG WITH A CONSOLIDATED EVALUATION REPORT FORMAT. THE APPENDIX PROVIDES DEFINITIONS OF INDEXES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (RCB)