NCJ Number
42527
Date Published
1973
Length
20 pages
Annotation
IT IS CONCLUDED THAT YOUTHS HAVE BEEN EVALUATED MORE THOROUGHLY AT THE DIAGNOSTIC CENTER THAN FORMERLY, SO THAT LEGAL DECISIONS MAY BE BASED ON A COMPREHENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PERSON RATHER THAN ON CRIMINAL RECORD.
Abstract
THE DIAGNOSTIC CENTER WAS EVALUATED WITH RESPECT TO ITS SUCCESS IN REACHING STATED GOALS; THE QUALITY OF THE STAFF AND THEIR EVALUATION EFFORTS; AND THE CENTER'S IMPACT ON AND RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER SYSTEMS CLOSELY INVOLVED WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS. INITIAL STATED GOALS FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC CENTER INCLUDED: ASSUMING PRESENTENCE DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION RESPONSIBILITIES FORMERLY DESIGNATED TO THE YOUTH CENTER; DECREASING THE TIME REQUIRED TO PERFORM EVALUATION STUDIES; AND INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING MORE STAFF AND TIME TO EVALUATE THE INDIVIDUAL IN HIS ENVIRONMENT. WHILE THERE IS NO CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT EVALUATION TIME HAS BEEN REDUCED, YOUTHS HAVE BEEN EVALUATED MORE THOROUGHLY AT THE DIAGNOSTIC CENTER THAN AT THE YOUTH CENTER, AND THE STAFF IS DEEMED QUALIFIED AND MOTIVATED IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE THOROUGH EVALUATIONS. INTERVIEWS AND OTHER INDICATIONS SUGGEST THAT THE REPORTS ARE READ AND ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED USEFUL TO THE COURTS; HOWEVER, THE EVALUATION SUGGESTS MODIFICATIONS THAT MIGHT ENHANCE THEIR UTILITY TO THE COURTS AND THE PAROLE BOARD. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT RECIDIVISM BE STUDIED AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC CENTER HAS BEEN FUNCTIONING LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE ADEQUATE DATA IN THIS AREA....RCB