NCJ Number
51040
Date Published
1975
Length
142 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A COMMUNITY-BASED DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT CENTER SERVING COURTS IN THE TOLEDO, OHIO, AREA IS ASSESSED IN TERMS OF ITS IMPACT ON DISPOSITION DECISION, POSTSENTENCE ADJUSTMENT, AND RECIDIVISM.
Abstract
THE COURT DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT CENTER (CDTC) EVALUATES OFFENDERS REFERRED BY THE COURTS, PROVIDES THE COURTS WITH INFORMATION PERTINENT TO SENTENCING DECISIONS, PROVIDES OFFENDERS WHO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY WITH TREATMENT PROGRAMMING (PSYCHOTHERAPY, VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, HOUSING AND/OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, HELP WITH FAMILY PROBLEMS), AND OFFERS CONSULTATION AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO PROBATION OFFICERS, POLICE, AND OTHER FIELD WORKERS. THROUGH ITS TREATMENT PROGRAMMING, THE CENTER ATTEMPTS TO DEAL WITH ALL THE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS THAT LEAD OFFENDERS INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SOME SERVICES ARE PROVIDED DIRECTLY, OTHERS ARE PROVIDED BY COMMUNITY AGENCIES THROUGH CDTC REFERRAL. RECIDIVISM RATES OF CDTC CLIENTS ARE COMPARED WITH THOSE FOR OTHER OFFENDERS, AND THE CENTER'S IMPACT ON DISPOSITION (PROBATION VERSUS INCARCERATION) AND POSTSENTENCE ADJUSTMENT IS MEASURED. STUDY SUBJECTS INCLUDE 100 WHITE MALE CLIENTS PROCESSED BY THE CENTER FROM JULY 1971 THROUGH JUNE 1973, AND A MATCHED SAMPLE OF 67 NONREFERRED OFFENDERS HANDLED BY THE TOLEDO MUNICIPAL COURT AND LUCAS COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT IN THE SAME TIME PERIOD. ALTHOUGH TRENDS IN DISPOSITION, POSTSENTENCE ADJUSTMENT, AND REARREST RATES GENERALLY FAVOR THE CDTC CLIENT GROUP, NONE OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CDTC CLIENTS AND OTHER OFFENDERS IS STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT. PROBLEMS OF INTERPRETATION AND METHODOLOGY MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE OUTCOME OF THE STUDY. SUGGESTIONS FOR AMELIORATING SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE OFFERED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)