ON ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF TREATMENT AND OTHER FACTORS ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 54008
• Author(s): J A FAGAN; W W RECKER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 27 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION, WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 1977 - PANEL 2 PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION

Annotation

AN EMPLOYMENT-ORIENTED PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR FIRST-OFFENSE MISDEMEANANTS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA IS EVALUATED.

Abstract

DATA FOR THE EVALUATION WERE TAKEN FROM CASE FILES FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF 1974. DURING THIS PERIOD, 395 DEFENDANTS WERE SCREENED, 267 WERE ENROLLED, AND 85 WERE TERMINATED FROM THE PROJECT. INTAKE CHARACTERISTICS, PROGRAM SERVICES, AND TERMINATION STATUS ARE EXAMINED FOR THE PARTICIPANTS WHO COMPLETED THE PROGRAM DURING THE STUDY PERIOD. DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THAT INTAKE CHARACTERISTICS, PARTICULARLY FAMILY STABILITY AND SOCIAL CLASS (INCLUDING INCOME) ARE THE STRONGEST PREDICTORS OF SUCCESS, IN TERMS OF BOTH EMPLOYMENT STATUS AND COURT DISPOSITION. LABOR STATUS UPON ARREST IS THE STRONGEST PREDICTOR OF JOB PLACEMENT. EMPLOYMENT-RELATED SERVICES ARE INFLUENTIAL IN DETERMINING EMPLOYMENT OUTCOME BUT NOT COURT DISPOSITION OUTCOME. INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING SERVICES HAVE LITTLE OR NO EFFECT ON EITHER EMPLOYMENT OR DISPOSITION OUTCOME. PARTICIPANTS ENTER AND LEAVE THE PROGRAM SOCIALLY DICHOTOMIZED. EMPLOYED PERSONS TEND TO LEAVE THE PROGRAM IN THEIR ORIGINAL JOBS OR IN NEWLY ACQUIRED JOBS, WHILE YOUNG, POOR PARTICIPANTS REMAIN UNEMPLOYED. FAVORABLE COURT DISPOSITIONS TEND TO GO TO PERSONS WHO REFLECT SOCIETAL NORMS, I.E., TO OLDER, MARRIED PERSONS WHO HAVE INCOMES ABOVE THE POVERTY LEVEL AND WHO DO NOT RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. ON THE BASIS OF THE FINDINGS, QUESTIONS ARE RAISED ABOUT THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROGRAM AND FOR DIVERSION IN GENERAL. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT DIVERTING DEFENDANTS INTO PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO REHABILITATE THEM BEFORE THEIR GUILT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN COURT IS COUNTER TO THE PRECEPT OF PRESUMED INNOCENCE. THE POSSIBILITY THAT REFORMS DESIGNED TO RELIEVE COURT CONGESTION (E.G., DIVERSION AND PLEA BARGAINING) LEAD TO OVERCRIMINALIZATION OF THE INNOCENT AND UNDERPUNISHMENT OF THE GUILTY IS RAISED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)