NCJ Number
59468
Date Published
1977
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THIS EVALUATION IS MEANT AS A MODEL FOR DEVELOPING DECISIONMAKING TOOLS, AND IS APPLIED TO A DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR PRISONER REHABILITATION IN A METROPOLITAN, RELATIVELY HIGH-INCOME AREA.
Abstract
THE GENERAL SYSTEMS STRATEGY IS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT PROGRAMS SHOULD BE EVALUATED ON THE FOLLOWING MERITS: (1) ADHERENCE TO PROGRAM RATIONALE OBJECTIVES; (2) TREATMENT RESPONSE OBJECTIVES--THE RANGE OF PREFERRED CLIENT RESPONSE TO PROGRAM TREATMENT; (3) INTERNAL ALLOCATION OF ORGANIZATIONAL RESOURCES IN LIGHT OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVES; AND (4) TARGET GROUP COMPLIANCE WITH INTENDED PROGRAM CLIENT SPECIFICATIONS. BEFORE THESE CRITERIA CAN BE USED, RESEARCHERS MUST SHOW THAT PROGRAM PARTICIPATION IS RELATED TO DESIRED CLIENT BEHAVIOR, THAT THERE IS MEASUREABLE EFFECT, AND THAT THE EFFECT IS RELATED TO THE PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVE. THE DIVERSION PROGRAM EVALUATED WAS AIMED TO LESSEN RECIDIVISM BY OFFERING COUNSELING, JOB AND EDUCATIONAL AID, AND REFERRAL BY THE COURTS FOR MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES. IT SOUGHT TO DETERMINE AND REDUCE UNLAWFUL BEHAVIOR NOT ONLY WHEN IT WAS FOLLOWED BY ARREST BUT ALSO WHEN IT OCCURRED UNDETECTED EXCEPT BY THE CLIENT OR CRONIES. DATA COLLECTED FOR EVALUATION INCLUDED POLICE AND CORRECTIONS REPORTS AND INFORMED INTERVIEW RESPONSES FROM CLIENTS. INPUT AND OUTPUT VARIABLES, AND TREATMENT RESPONSE OBJECTIVES ALL HAVING TO DO WITH REDUCING UNLAWFUL BEHAVIOR ARE DISCUSSED. (RFC)