NCJ Number
87207
Date Published
1982
Length
49 pages
Annotation
This validation study tested the effectiveness of a classification instrument and the overall workload management system for an Illinois program designed to reintegrate parolees into the community.
Abstract
In 1979 the Division of Community Services of the Illinois Department of Corrections developed a workload management system with the goals of improving the effectiveness of parole supervision by better allocation of resources and providing information for efficient management, research, and budgeting. In the late summer of 1981, a preliminary validation study was conducted to test the utility of the information system, develop a comprehensive classification instrument for assessing releasees according to probability of program failure and casework service needs, and ensure that both urban and rural districts were adequately served by the resulting system. Because terminations from both of the areas studied were fewer than optimal for analysis, the validation study was replicated in March 1982. This is the report of the results of that study. The study found that demographic information, especially age, can be of some assistance in predicting parole outcome. The combination of the B risk and A needs scales provided the most accurate predictions of parole outcome after all individual and combinations of instruments were studied. Few cases were misclassified, especially at the low end of the scale where predictions of success for those who fail would be of great harm to public safety. Continued examination of the reevaluation instrument and the B risk-A needs combination is recommended for further predictive accuracy. The case classification instruments are appended.