NCJ Number
66851
Date Published
1976
Length
86 pages
Annotation
THE OTTAWA PROGRAM, WHICH USES VOLUNTEERS AS ASSISTANT PROBATION OFFICERS, IS EVALUATED BY MEANS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS.
Abstract
THE STUDY IS PLACED IN THE CONTEXT OF A RESEARCH SERIES EXPLORING THE THEORETICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DESIGN WITHIN WHICH VOLUNTEERS AND PROFESSIONAL PROBATION OFFICERS WORK TOGETHER IN THE OTTAWA PROGRAM. THE FIRST PART OF THE STUDY PRESENTS CHARTS AND FIGURES ON THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STAFF, PROFESSIONAL WORKLOAD STATISTICS OF THE PERIOD UNDER STUDY, RECIDIVISM DATA FOR PROBATIONERS TREATED BY VOLUNTEERS AND BY PROFESSIONALS, AND THE RATE OF VOLUNTEERS FLOW. IN THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS, THE STUDY DOES NOT COMPARE TWO SEPARATE PROGRAMS (ONE VOLUNTEER AND ONE PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS WORK TOGETHER IN A VARIETY OF ROLES. THE ANALYSIS CONTAINS TABLES ON THE DOLLAR-VALUE OF VOLUNTEER WORK, AND EXPENSES INCURRED BY VOLUNTEERS. RESULTS INDICATE THAT EVEN IN THE RELATIVELY INEFFICIENT PERIOD IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VOLUNTEERS' HOURLY COST WAS NOT MORE THAN THE LOWEST PROFESSIONAL WAGE. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN EFFICIENCY BETWEEN 1974 AND 1975. HOWEVER, ONE NEEDS TO CONSIDER THE MULTIPLE OUTCOMES OF THE PROBATION PROGRAM BEYOND THE MONETARY VALUE TO ACCURATELY ASSESS ITS EFFECTIVENESS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY, ADDITIONAL DATA, AND MODELS FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE APPENDED. (SAJ)