FIRST OFFENDERS - A DEFERRED PROSECUTION PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 37131
• Journal: Juvenile Justice Volume: 27 Issue: 3 Dated: (AUGUST 1976) Pages: 41-50
• Author(s): R T ZAFFRANN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN, FIRST OFFENDER PROGRAM IS AN EDUCATION PROGRAM CONSISTING OF FOUR COMPONENTS: INTAKE, A CONTRACT, REFERRAL, AND ATTENDANCE AT A SERIES OF FIRST OFFENDER CLASSES.

Abstract

THIS PRETRIAL DIVERSION AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR COMMITTING PETTY CRIMES ADMITS MOSTLY (85%) JUVENILE FIRST OFFENDERS. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM RESULTS IN THE REMOVAL OR NON-FILING OF THE CRIMINAL RECORD AND THE REMOVAL OF THE CRIMINAL STIGMA. THIS ARTICLE OFFERS A DESCRIPTIVE OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING PROGRAM NEED, UNDERLYING RATIONALE, AND ASSUMPTIONS, GOALS, AND METHODOLOGIES. DISCUSSION CENTERS UPON AN EXAMINATION OF THOSE METHODOLOGIES, THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY, AND AN EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM. EVALUATION RESULTS INDICATED A LACK OF SUFFICIENT DATA TO MEASURE THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT ON RECIDIVISM, THE NEED FOR MORE RELEVANT AND SUBSTANTIAL CLASS SESSIONS, AND PROGRAM ADMISSION OF LOWER RISK OFFENDERS. THE PROGRAM IS SHOWN TO BE MORE THAN COST EFFECTIVE IN COMPARISON TO A JURY TRIAL.