NCJ Number
113528
Date Published
1987
Length
49 pages
Annotation
The ongoing program of the Incarceration Diversion Unit (IDU) of the Lucas County (Ohio) Adult Probation Department, which has offered intensive probation services to 470 offenders diverted from prison, including 106 shock probationers, over the past 8 years was evaluated.
Abstract
The objectives of the IDU program, which has been in operation since February 1978, are to reduce State commitments from the County, provide increased probation services, and maintain community safety at a cost less than traditional incarceration. The IDU consists of 4 probation officers each assigned to a maximum caseload of 25. To obtain a reliable control group, 372 cases were selected from the regular probationers' case files and matched on race, sex and risk. The followup analysis included a total of 372 IDU cases. Current status, arrests, convictions, criminal behavior severity, social adjustment, commitment reduction, costs and employment data were examined. Results of the 7th evaluation indicate that the IDU appears to be diverting high risk/high need offenders from prison; to be providing a high level of service and contacts; to be having an impact on the commitment rate, cost, and employment of offenders, and to be maintaining an acceptable level of community safety. Several recommendations are made, including increasing the number of contacts to 4 per month; increasing the referral rate to keep pace with the rising commitment rate of the county; continuing to place a strong emphasis on employment; and to take steps to insure that the protection of the community is being met.