EVALUATION OF THE AKRON (OH) 4-A (ARBITRATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MINOR CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS) PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 46678
• Author(s): R SMITH; T SMITH
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 41 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Summit Cty Criminal Justice Cmssn
• Corporate Author: Summit Cty Criminal Justice Cmssn
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AKRON'S 4-A PROGRAM -- ARBITRATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MINOR CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS -- WAS FOUND TO PROVIDE ECONOMICAL AND LASTING SETTLEMENT FOR MINOR DISPUTES.

Abstract

FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION OF ARBITRATION AS A PUBLIC GOOD AND THE NEED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC PROGRAMS, THE AKRON PROJECT IS EVALUATED FOR THE YEAR JULY 1, 1975 TO JUNE 30, 1976. THE PROJECT BEGAN IN 1973. AT TIME OF EVALUATION IT HAD A DIRECTOR, A TRIBUNAL CLERK, A REFERRAL CLERK, AND A PROFESSIONAL ABRITRATOR ON ITS STAFF. IT ALSO USED ABOUT 25 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TRAINED IN ARBITRATION. TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE YEAR WAS $29,222. GOALS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO IMPROVE JUSTICE BY PROVIDING A MEANINGFUL ALTERNATIVE TO PROSECUTION OF MINOR CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS AND TO STREAMLINE THE WORKLOAD IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES WERE TO DIVERT 33 PERCENT OF COMPLAINTS FROM THE PROSECUTOR, TO GIVE 90 PERCENT OF THE CASES REFERRED A HEARING WITHIN 7 DAYS, AND TO REDUCE RECURRENCE OF COMPLAINTS. THE EVALUATION FOUND 29 PERCENT OF TOTAL COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE PROSECUTOR WERE DIVERTED. A TOTAL OF 1,219 CASES WERE HANDLED BY THE 4-A PROJECT DURING THE YEAR. MOST INVOLVED LONG-SMOULDERING DISPUTES IN WHICH THE FILING OF A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT OCCURRED AS AN ACT OF REVENGE. THE PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY SETTLED 82 PERCENT OF ITS CASES, 8 PERCENT WERE DROPPED BY THE COMPLAINANT AFTER THE HEARING WAS SCHEDULED, AND 10 PERCENT WERE REFERRED BACK TO THE PROSECUTOR. MOST OF THIS 10 PERCENT HAS AN EXTREMELY INTENSE UNDERLYING PROBLEM BEYOND 4-A'S CAPABILITY. THE OBJECTIVE OF SPEEDY RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM WAS ACHIEVED; 99 PERCENT OF CASES HAD A HEARING SCHEDULED WITHIN 7 DAYS. RECORDKEEPING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT ARE COMMENDED. THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR 4-A CASES WAS 2 PERCENT. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT GUIDELINES BE DEVELOPED FOR REFERRAL TO THE PROJECT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CASES WHICH HAVE TO BE SENT BACK TO PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. REFERRAL TO A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY SHOULD ALSO BE PART OF THE 4-A PROJECT'S AUTHORITY. TABLES PRESENT SUPPORTING EVALUATION DATA. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED.