EFFECT OF THE CRIMINAL COURTS ON DIVERSION/REFFERAL PROGRAMS - THE CASE OF TASC

• NCJ Number: 53773
• Author(s): R STERNHELL
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 20 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION, WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 1977

Annotation

A GROUP OF ARRESTEES WHO REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE IN A DRUG REFERRAL PROGRAM BY OPTING FOR A REGULAR COURT OUTCOME IS EXAMINED TO SEE IF COURT DISPOSITION SERVED SELF-INTEREST MORE THAN THE DIVERSION PROGRAM.

Abstract

THE TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES TO STREET CRIME PROGRAM (TASC) IDENTIFIES DRUG ABUSERS SHORTLY AFTER THEIR ARREST AND REFERS THEM TO APPROPRIATE TREATMENT MODALITIES. A PLANNED COERCIVE ELEMENT IN MOTIVATING ELIGIBLE ARRESTEES TO CHOOSE THE TASC PROGRAM IS ITS OFFERING OF AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION. AN EXAMINATION OF THE INTAKE PROCESS OF THE ATLANTA TASC SHOWED THAT NEARLY 55 PERCENT OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR THE INTAKE INTERVIEW, BUT WHO HAD DECLINED THE INTERVIEW, HAD DONE SO BECAUSE OF DISINTEREST IN TASC. THOSE DECLINING CHOSE TO RISK A JUDICIAL OUTCOME RATHER THAN OPT FOR TASC CLIENT STATUS. TO DETERMINE IF THE SUBSEQUENT COURT DISPOSITION OF THOSE WHO REFUSED TASC PARTICIPATION MIGHT HAVE JUSTIFIED SUCH A DECISION FROM A SELF-INTEREST VIEWPOINT, A SAMPLE OF SUCH PERSONS ARRESTED DURING THE PERIOD OF JULY 1975 THROUGH APRIL 1976 WAS EXAMINED (N=96). A SAMPLE OF TASC PARTICIPANTS (N=297) ENROLLED DURING THE SAME PERIOD WAS COMPARED WITH THE SAMPLE THAT REFUSED TO ENTER TASC ON THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: (1) THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS, BOTH MEAN AND MEDIAN; (2) THE NUMBER HAVING PREVIOUSLY SERVED TIME IN PRISON; (3) THE NUMBER OF YEARS SERVED IN PRISON, BOTH MEAN AND MEDIAN; AND (4) PERCENT WITH A PRESENT OR PREVIOUS DRUG CHARGE. OF THESE FOUR DIMENSIONS, THE TWO GROUPS DIFFERED ONLY IN THE NUMBER OF ARRESTEES WITH A PRESENT OR PREVIOUS DRUG CHARGE, WITH THE COMPARISON GROUP HAVING FEWER. IT WAS FOUND THAT 75 PERCENT OF THOSE REJECTING TASC WERE EITHER NOT PROSECUTED, NOT CONVICTED, NOT SENTENCED TO INCARCERATION, OR SENTENCED TO 7 MONTHS OR LESS OF INCARCERATION. SUCH DISPOSITIONS ARE CONSIDERED TO UNDERMINE TASC'S APPEAL WHEN COMPARED TO SANCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TRADITIONAL PROSECUTION. AN EXAMINATION OF CLIENT MOTIVATION FOR ENTERING TASC AND AN ANALYSIS OF TREATMENT OUTCOMES ARE SUGGESTED FOR FUTURE RESEARCH IN LIGHT OF THE REPORTED FINDINGS. DATA FROM THE STUDY ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)