NCJ Number
48333
Date Published
1978
Length
29 pages
Annotation
STATISTICS, EVALUATIVE COMMENTS, CASE HISTORIES, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS ARE PRESENTED FOR THIS PROJECT REQUIRING PROBATIONERS TO WORK WITHOUT PAY DURING THEIR LEISURE TIME IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
Abstract
THE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT IS DESIGNED FOR OFFENDERS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE GIVEN SHORT CUSTODIAL SENTENCES. THE PROJECT REQUIRES PROBATIONERS TO WORK IN A PROJECT TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY DURING THEIR LEISURE TIME. WORK PROJECTS ARE SUPERVISED BY PROBATION OFFICE STAFF. THE PROJECT IS INTENDED TO ENHANCE THE PARTICIPANTS' SENSE OF SELF-WORTH THROUGH SERVICE TO OTHERS, AS OPPOSED TO BEING SUBJECTED TO THE DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT. SINCE THE PROJECT'S INCEPTION IN 1972, 1,581 CLIENTS (77 PERCENT) SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED THE PROJECT, WHILE 470 (23 PERCENT) FAILED. THERE ARE GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING THE PROJECT COULD BE MAINTAINED WITH FURTHER EXPANSION BECAUSE ITS 'SUCCESS RATE' HAS REMAINED REMARKABLY STABLE. THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROJECT BY THE COURTS AND FIELD PROBATION OFFICERS IS REFLECTED IN THE NUMBER OF CASES BEING REFERRED FOR SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT; OF THE 2,203 REFERRED DURING 1977, 82 PERCENT HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED. STATISTICAL TABLES REFLECT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: THE NUMBER OF OFFENDERS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT FOR EACH YEAR; THE COURTS MAKING THE REFERRALS; THE AGES AND LENGTH OF TIME IN THE PROJECT; WOMEN OFFENDERS PRESENT PARTICULAR PROBLEMS IN THE PROJECT, ESPECIALLY YOUNGER WOMEN WITH SMALL CHILDREN, WHO ARE OR BECOME PREGNANT. CONSEQUENTLY, THE PROPORTION OF WOMEN CLIENTS IS SMALL, ALTHOUGH INCREASING. CASE HISTORIES OF CLIENTS ARE PRESENTED. SUCCESS AND FAILURE RATES ARE INCLUDED. THE INNER LONDON PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE SERVICE WILL BE RESTRUCTURED DURING 1978, SO THAT FOUR DIVISIONAL AREAS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THE CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER. THE COMMUNITY SERVICE BY OFFENDERS PROJECT WILL BECOME AN OPERATIONAL PART OF THAT STRUCTURE BY 1978. (RCB)