NCJ Number
17907
Date Published
1973
Length
23 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS OF A GENERAL EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY, A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY DESIGNED FOR YOUNG (17 YEARS OF AGE AND UNDER) DRUG USERS.
Abstract
THE INTERNAL FUNCTIONING OF THE PROGRAM, ITS RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE NARCOTICS TREATMENT ADMINISTRATION, ITS COMMUNITY IMPACT, AND ITS IMPACT ON CLIENTS AND RELATIONSHIP TO CRIME ARE ASSESSED BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH THE DIRECTOR, SOME OF THE STAFF, AND RESIDENTS AND OBSERVATIONS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, IN TERMS OF PROGRAM EFFICIENCY, THE PROGRAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN UNDER-UTILIZED, AND FILES ARE MAINTAINED HAPHAZARDLY. HOWEVER, THE STAFF-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP APPEARED TO BE GOOD AND THE STAFF HIGHLY MOTIVATED. SEVERAL SEVERE DEFICIENCIES WERE NOTED IN TERMS OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS, INCLUDING PROGRAM CONTACT WITH ONLY 6 TO 10 PERCENT OF ALL NARCOTICS TREATMENT ADMINISTRATION YOUTH CLIENTS; LACK OF SUCCESS IN RETAINING CLIENTS OR PREVENTING ARRESTS; AND LACK OF PROOF OF SUCCESS IN ELIMINATING ILLEGAL DRUG USE. IN ADDITION, NO MORE THAN FROM ONE-QUARTER TO ONE-THIRD OF EMERGE PATIENTS WERE FOUND TO BE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REFERRED. EVALUATORS MAINTAIN THAT EMERGE HAS HAD A NEGLIGIBLE IMPACT ON THE SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A FAILURE IN THIS AREA IN TERMS OF EFFECTIVENESS, AND SHOULD NOT BE SUPPORTED BY CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY FUNDS.