NCJ Number
36716
Date Published
1976
Length
125 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT USES A MODIFIED CASE STUDY APPROACH TO 'EVALUATE' TWO PROGRAMS WHOSE PURPOSE CHANGED FROM THAT ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED IN THE GRANT AWARD, THEREBY MAKING IMPOSSIBLE A TRADITIONAL 'EXPERIMENTAL' RESEARCH DESIGN.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THESE NARRATIVES (IN WHICH CHRONOLOGIES OF THE PROGRAMS' LIVES ARE ARRAYED AND FACTORS RELEVANT TO THE 'DEMONSTRATION' OF THE PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED) IS NOT TO DETERMINE IF THE PROGRAMS WERE SUCCESSFUL, BUT WHY THEY FAILED TO DEVELOP AND WERE DEFUNDED. THE PARISH PRISON DETOXIFICATION PROJECT HAD AS ITS ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES THE MEDICAL DETOXIFICATION OF 600 INMATES OF THE ORLEANS PARISH PRISON AND INMATE PARTICIPATION IN A SOON-TO-BE DEVELOPED REHABILITATION PROGRAM. HOWEVER, THE SHERIFF'S OPPOSITION TO METHADONE IN THE PRISON, INABILITY TO AGREE ON PERSONNEL AND FUNCTIONS, AND PROBLEMS WITH INTERAGENCY COOPERATION AND COORDINATION LED TO THREE CHANGES IN PROGRAM DIRECTION IN TWO YEARS. FUNDED IN JUNE 1973, THE PROJECT WAS ENDED OFFICIALLY ON MAY 15, 1975. THE COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY (DREYFOUS HOUSE) WAS FUNDED IN JULY 1973 AS A HALFWAY-IN HOUSE FOR EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED YOUTHS WHO HAD ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OR IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES AND FOR JUVENILES WHO HAD BEEN ADJUDICATED DELINQUENTS. DESIGNED AS A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MALE YOUTHS, AGED 14-16, IT PLANNED TO USE GUIDED GROUP INTERACTION AS THE BASIC TREATMENT MODALITY. THE NARRATIVE ASSESSES PROJECT EFFICIENCY (IMPLEMENTATION AS PLANNED) AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TREATMENT MODEL ON INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS. HOWEVER, STRONGLY NEGATIVE COMMUNITY REACTION TO A PROJECT INVOLVING ADJUDICATED JUVENILE OFFENDERS HELD UP PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION FOR OVER A YEAR AND RESULTED IN THE EXCLUSION OF THE ADJUDICATED TARGET GROUP. THE OBJECTIVE OF THESE CASE STUDIES IS TO HIGHLIGHT PROBLEMS THAT ARE CONTINUALLY PRESENT IN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT: SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMS REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FROM THE HOST AGENCY, SIMPLY SO THAT THE PROGRAM CAN BEGIN TO OPERATE; AND WHEN SERVICES ARE PROPOSED TO A HOST AGENCY, IN MOST INSTANCES, ALL THE THE IMPORTANT OPERATING DECISIONS ARE THOSE OF THE HOST. THE DREYFOUS HOUSE CASE STUDY LED TO THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS: WHEN A PROJECT IS OF A CONTROVERSIAL NATURE IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE SHOULD BE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN AND A WELL-STRUCTURED PLAN FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT OF THE GRANT AWARD; PLANNING AGENCIES SHOULD RESEARCH ALL POSSIBLE SOURCES OF ATTACK UPON PROJECTS OF CONTROVERSIAL NATURE: AND PROJECTS SHOULD BE ADVISED REGARDING THE IMPACT OF PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES IF THE SUBGRANTEE FAILS TO MAKE SUCH ADJUSTMENTS. OVERALL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT LEAA ESTABLISH MORE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF FUNDING WHEN THE BASIS FOR FUNDING IS REMOVED FROM THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT. NEW ORLEANS