NCJ Number
53535
Date Published
1976
Length
62 pages
Annotation
THE PROBATION DIVERSION PROGRAM OFFERED BY A HALFWAY HOUSE IN OHIO IS DESCRIBED; IT INCLUDES PERSONAL COUNSELING AND SERVICES RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, AND BASIC MODES OF SOCIALIZATION.
Abstract
ALVIS HOUSE IS A NONPROFIT PRIVATE CORPORATION FUNCTIONING AS THE FRANKLIN COUNTY HALFWAY HOUSE, INC. IT HAS BEEN SERVING THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTIONS, THE OHIO ADULT PAROLE AUTHORITY, THE U.S. BUREAU OF PRISONS, AND LOCAL COURTS SINCE JANUARY 1968. THE AIM OF THE PROBATION DIVERSION PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE AN INTENSIVE COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL GROUP EXPERIENCE FOR CONVICTED OFFENDERS WHO ARE ON PROBATION FOR NO MORE THAN A SECOND FELONY CONVICTION. THE PROGRAM ADDITIONALLY SERVES PRETRIAL AND PRESENTENCE OFFENDERS FOR WHOM NEITHER JAIL NOR BAIL ARE APPROPRIATE. MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE GAINED BY THE PROGRAM ARE A REDUCTION IN RECIDIVISM RATES, THE PROVISION OF VIABLE SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION FOR LOCAL JUDGES, A LOWER COMMITMENT RATE TO LOCAL AND STATE INMATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, AND THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR SIMILAR DIVERSION PROGRAMS. THE OUTCOME EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HALFWAY HOUSE'S PROBATION DIVERSION PROGRAM WAS EVALUATED USING 51 PERSONS IN AN EXPERIMENTAL GROUP WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM AND 27 PERSONS IN A COMPARISON GROUP WHO WERE PROBATIONERS. SCORES FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS WERE COMPUTED IN TERMS OF POSITIVE ADJUSTMENT, NEGATIVE ADJUSTMENT, AND COMBINED TOTAL ADJUSTMENT. EVALUATION RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE PROGRAM SERVED ITS INTENDED TARGET GROUP OF YOUNG NONDANGEROUS OFFENDERS. IT OFFERED A SENTENCING ALTERNATIVE TO THE LOCAL JUDICIARY AND APPEARED TO TAKE PERSONS WHO WOULD BE JUDGED AS MARGINAL PROBATION RISKS BY SENTENCING AUTHORITIES. THE PROGRAM REDUCED THE CASELOAD OF LOCAL PROBATION OFFICES BY PROVIDING SUPERVISION AND CASEWORK FOR THEIR CLIENTS. IT APPEARED TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL IN PROMOTING POSITIVE ADJUSTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AS THE TRADITIONAL PROGRAM. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, HOWEVER, HAD CONSISTENTLY HIGHER RATES OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS THAN DID PROBATIONERS IN THE COMPARISON GROUP. SUPPORTING DATA AND FORMS USED IN THE EVALUATION ARE INCLUDED. FOOTNOTES ARE CITED AT THE END OF EACH CHAPTER. (DEP)