NCJ Number
67964
Date Published
1979
Length
71 pages
Annotation
BASED UPON RESULTS FROM EVALUATIONS OF SEVEN RESTITUTION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS AND FROM PROGRAMS PREVIOUSLY STUDIED, THE PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION OF RESTITUTION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
INTENDED AS A GUIDE FOR PROGRAM PLANNERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, THE REPORT PROMOTES THE FORMULATION OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIBES ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES FOR REACHING PARTICULAR OBJECTIVES. A DESCRIPTION OF THE STAGES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION OF CORRESPONDING PROGRAM ELEMENTS. THE SCOPE OF THE PROGRAM'S ROLE IN THE RESTITUTION PROCESS IS EXAMINED, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY CONTROL AND MONITORING AT EACH STAGE IS EMPHASIZED. A DISCUSSION OF PROGRAM PROCEDURES BEGINS WITH THE INTAKE OF OFFENDERS. THE NEED FOR EFFICIENT SCREENING PROCEDURES AND CAREFULLY DEFINED ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA IS INDICATED, IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE ARBITRARY SELECTION PATTERNS AND CONSERVE PROGRAM RESOURCES FOR OFFENDERS BEST SUITED FOR PROGRAM OBJECTIVES. FOR PROGRAMS THAT BASE THE OFFENDER'S SANCTION ON THE AMOUNT OF VICTIM LOSS, IN CONTRAST TO A FIXED SCALE OF PAYMENTS, THE NEXT INTAKE STAGE INVOLVES THE ASSESSMENT OF LOSSES. THE TYPES OF LOSSES AND VICTIMS THAT CAN BE INVESTIGATED ARE DISCUSSED, AND VARIOUS STYLES FOR ASCERTAINING LOSS ARE CONSIDERED. THE REPORT TURNS NEXT TO THE PROCEDURES AND ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH A 'PLAN' OF RESTITUTION OR COMMUNITY SERVICE. PLANS RANGING FROM SIMPLE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT VICTIMS' LOSSES BE REPAID TO COMPLEX CONTRACTUAL DOCUMENTS ARE DISCUSSED; PLAN FORMULATIONS ARE DETAILED. THE FINAL SECTIONS OF THE REPORT DEAL WITH PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AFTER RESTITUTION OR COMMUNITY SERVICE OBLIGATIONS ARE ESTABLISHED. THE ADVANTAGES OF PROGRAM EVALUATION ARE ALSO INDICATED. A VICTIM LOSS ASSESSMENT MATRIX AND A CHART OF TYPES OF VICTIMS CONSIDERED FOR PROGRAM LOSS ASSESSMENT ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)