NCJ Number
62212
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE FIRST 6 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AS A SENTENCING ALTERNATIVE IN INNER LONDON, ENGLAND ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
BASED ON 1972 LEGISLATION, THE INNER LONDON PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE SERVICE (WHICH HAD BEEN SELECTED TO OPERATE ONE OF THE SIX PILOT PROJECTS) WAS ORGANIZED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR OFFENDERS. THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM WAS TO REQUIRE APPROPRIATE OFFENDERS TO WORK WITHOUT PAY IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS FOR THHE PURPOSES OF DEVELOPING GOOD WORK HABITS AND MAKING SYMBOLIC RESTITUTION TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THE OFFENSE COMMITTED. DETERMINING BY TRIAL AND ERROR WHICH OFFENDERS WERE SUITABLE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE AND CONVINCING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ENTRUST THEIR WORK NEEDS TO OFFENDERS WERE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS THE FIRST YEAR. OFFENDERS SHOWN TO BE UNSUITABLE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE INCLUDED ALCOHOLICS AND DRUG ADDICTS WHO WERE UNABLE TO SUSTAIN WORK EFFORTS EVEN OVER A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD. EXTENSIVE STAFF CONTACT AND PERSUASIVE APPROACHES WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS EVENTUALLY LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERAL WORK OPPORTUNITIES WHICH SERVED AS A FOUNDATION FOR EXPANSION. UNSKILLED AND INEXPERIENCED WORKERS WERE TRAINED IN WORKSHOPS. DURING 1973 AND 1974, 561 COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS WERE DISPENSED. IN EARLY 1975, THREE AREA OFFICES FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE WERE OPENED TO INCREASE PROXIMITY TO JOB SITES. ALTHOUGH EACH UNIT OPERATES INDEPENDENTLY, ALL FUNCTION UNDER A SINGLE POLICY. BY THE END OF 1975, THE NUMBER OF SERVICE ORDERS HAD RISEN TO 1,070. THIS INCREASE WAS APPARENTLY THE RESULT OF DECENTRALIZATION AND MORE INVOLVEMENT WITH FIELD PROBATION OFFICERS, THE JUDICIARY, AND VOLUNTEER AGENCIES. IN 1976, ORDERS INCREASED 40 PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR; HOWEVER, IN 1977 AND 1978, ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF SERVICE ORDERS CONTINUED TO INCREASE, A LEVELING-OFF BEGAN. REASONS FOR THIS OCCURRENCE HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED. REPORTS FROM EACH OF THE DIVISIONAL OFFICES ARE INCLUDED, ALONG WITH TABLES ON OFFENDERS MADE SUBJECT TO ORDER, COURTS MAKING ORDERS, AGE OF CLIENTS, AND PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS. (RCB)