NCJ Number
50311
Date Published
1977
Length
61 pages
Annotation
AN EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED OF THE FLORIDA PRETRIAL INTERVENTION (PTI) PROGRAM WHICH DIVERTS PRETRIAL OFFENDERS INTO COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS PROVIDING COUNSELING, JOB PLACEMENT, AND REFERRAL.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED DURING 1976-1977, AND THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES WERE ESTABLISHED FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE PTI PROGRAM: (1) DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF GRANT OBJECTIVE ACHIEVEMENT; (2) DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; (3) ASCERTAIN THE PROGRAM'S PERFORMANCE IN TERMS OF STANDARDS DOCUMENTED IN FLORIDA'S STANDARDS AND GOALS REPORT; (4) DETERMINE THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM; (5) EVALUATE THE NATURE OF THE PROGRAM'S RELATIONS WITH STATE ATTORNEYS, CIRCUIT JUDGES, AND OTHER AGENCIES; AND (6) IDENTIFY DIFFERENCES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM THAT MIGHT INFLUENCE ITS EFFICACY. THE PTI PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO DIVERT SELECTED FIRST OFFENDERS FROM TRADITIONAL COURT PROCESSING INTO AN IMMEDIATE AND CONTROLLED SUPERVISORY PROGRAM IN ORDER TO REDUCE COURT SYSTEM TIME AND COSTS, ALLOW THE COURT SYSTEM TO WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY, PROVIDE A SPECIALLY TAILORED TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR THE ACCUSED ON A TIMELY BASIS, AND PREVENT THE INDIVIDUAL'S FURTHER INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. PROGRAM COMPONENTS DISCUSSED INCLUDE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, SCREENINGS AND INVESTIGATIONS, INTERVENTION, AND SERVICES. DURING FISCAL YEAR 1976-1977, 6,631 PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS WERE COMPLETED, AND 2,120 BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS WERE CONDUCTED. A TOTAL OF 1,439 PERSONS WERE ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM; 1,211 SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM AND 134 DID NOT. THE PROGRAM'S RECIDIVISM RATE WAS 3.7 PERCENT FOR CLIENTS WHO WERE SUCCESSFULLY TERMINATED FROM THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM COLLECTED $58,965 IN RESTITUTION. THE AVERAGE COST FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL TO GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM WAS APPROXIMATELY $342, AS COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE COST OF $1,656 PER CASE ON PROBATION. APPENDIXES CONTAIN FORMS USED IN THE PROGRAM, GUIDELINES FOR PRETRIAL INTERVENTION, CLIENT PROFILES, PROVISIONS OF A FLORIDA STATUTE ON PTI, AND A DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENT.