EVALUATION OF THE ACCELERATED REHABILITATIVE DISPOSITION PROGRAM - ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA - FINAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 15646
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 33 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-DF-03-0025
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Pennsylvania Governor's Justice Cmssn
• Corporate Author: Temple University
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DIVERSION PROGRAM IN WHICH YOUTHFUL FIRST OFFENDERS ARE GIVEN PROBATION AND ARE ALLOWED TO PETITION TO HAVE THEIR ARREST RECORDS EXPUNGED AT THE TIME OF SENTENCE COMPLETION.

Abstract

THE GOALS OF THE ERIE ACCELERATED REHABILITATION DIVERSION (ARD) PROGRAM ARE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR PROBATIONERS, TO REDUCE THE ERIE COUNTY COURT CASE BACKLOG, AND THE PROPORTION OF JURY TRIALS THROUGH COURT DIVERSION. EVALUATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDED TWO SITE VISITS AND INTERVIEWS WITH PROGRAM STAFF, JUDGES, THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN CHARGE, THE PROGRAM'S ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, AND AN ERIE ATTORNEY. RESULTS WERE GATHERED FROM A QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTERED TO ARD PROBATIONERS BY THE PROGRAM STAFF. THE PROGRAM IN GENERAL WAS FOUND TO BE EFFECTIVE. PROGRAM STAFF SHOWED A DEGREE OF EFFORT IN MAKING REHABILITATIVE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO PROBATIONERS. THE CRIMINAL RECIDIVISM RATE WAS LOW (3.2 PERCENT), AND EMPLOYMENT RECORDS SHOWED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT WHEN COMPARED TO THE PRE-ARREST PERIOD. ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF JURY TRIALS DID NOT DECREASE, THERE WAS NO INCREASE IN NUMBER. TABLES OF RESULTS ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)