NCJ Number
61012
Date Published
1979
Length
93 pages
Annotation
THE COMMUNITY ARBITRATION PROJECT (CAP) IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD., A VOLUNTARY DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR JUVENILES, IS DESCRIBED, WITH EMPHASIS ON ITS IMPLEMENTATION, COSTS, OPERATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND RESULTS.
Abstract
CAP WAS ESTABLISHED TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON THE COURTS CREATED BY UNMANAGEABLE CASELOADS AND TO ASSIGN JUVENILES TO TASKS THAT PROVIDE MEANINGFUL SERVICES. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE CAP INCLUDE PROMPT CASE PROCESSING (WITHIN 7 WORKING DAYS), A SETTING SUGGESTIVE OF A COURTROOM FOR THE ARBITRATION HEARING, INVOLVEMENT OF VICTIMS IN THE HEARING, ASSURANCE OF DUE PROCESS, USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE WORK EXPERIENCE, AND CONSTRUCTIVE DISPOSITION (I.E., RESTITUTION, COUNSELING, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS). OF THE 1,137 YOUTHS WHO WERE ASSIGNED THROUGH CAP TO COMMUNITY SERVICE OR ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE IN THE PROJECT'S FIRST 2 YEARS OF OPERATION, 85 PERCENT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THEIR ASSIGNMENTS WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED 90-DAY PERIOD. OF MOST IMPORTANCE, CAP CLIENTS DEMONSTRATED SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RATES OF REPEAT OFFENSES THAN COMPARABLE YOUTH WHO WERE PROCESSED TRADITIONALLY. ACCORDING TO A COMPARISON STUDY, OF THESE TWO GROUPS COUNTY YOUTHS PROCESSED BY CAP IN 1975 HAD A 4.5 PERCENT LOWER RECIDIVISM RATE AND 37 PERCENT FEWER REARRESTS PER CLIENT WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER INTAKE/ARBITRATION. MOREOVER, ONLY 8 PERCENT OF ARBITRATED CASES WERE TURNED OVER FOR PROSECUTION, FREEING THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FROM CONCENTRATING ON MINOR JUVENILE OFFENSES, AS WELL AS SAVING THE POLICE MUCH TIME AND PAPERWORK INVOLVED IN CHARGING AN OFFENDER AND TESTIFYING IN COURT. COSTS OF CAP ARE ALMOST SOLELY FOR SALARIES: 90 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL BUDGET IN 3 YEARS OF FEDERAL FUNDING WAS FOR THE SALARIES OF SEVEN STAFF MEMBERS. AN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY JUVENILE CITATION FORM AND NOTICE AND ADVICE OF RIGHTS (FOR ARBITRATION HEARINGS) ARE APPENDED. FOOTNOTES, FLOW CHARTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED.