NCJ Number
247290
Date Published
June 2012
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results of an outcome evaluation of the Windsor County Sparrow Project in southeastern Vermont.
Abstract
The outcome evaluation of the Windsor County Sparrow Project resulted in the following conclusions: 1) The Sparrow Project appears to be a promising approach for reducing recidivism among participants who successfully complete the program; 2) participants who successfully completed the program recidivated at the same pace as participants who were dis-enrolled from the program; 3) the Sparrow Project appears to be a promising approach for reducing the number of post-Project reconvictions for participants who completed the program; 4) program recidivists tended to commit post-program crime in Windsor County; and 5) project participants who were sentenced to incarcerative sentences had a higher probability of recidivating than participants who were sentenced to a community-based alternative. The Sparrow Project in Windsor County, VT, offers alternatives to incarceration by providing offenders with substance abuse and/or mental health issues with a viable community-based treatment plan. The project aims to reduce recidivism among defendants and veterans charged with non-violent property felonies and drug felonies by helping them develop the skills necessary for making health decisions and moving towards recovery. This outcome evaluation was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the program at reducing the rate of post-program criminal behavior for program participants. The initial findings from the evaluation suggest that the project is effective at reducing post-program recidivism among participants as well as the number of post-program reconvictions among participants who completed the program. Tables