NCJ Number
42240
Date Published
1977
Length
94 pages
Annotation
THIRD IN A SERIES OF FIVE REPORTS ON ALTERNATIVES TO THE USE OF JAIL INCARCERATION, THIS REPORT EXAMINES POLICY ISSUES OF DIVERSION, DISCUSSES PLANNING OF DIVERSION PROGRAMS, AND REVIEWS DIVERSION PROGRAM VARIATIONS.
Abstract
THIS SERIES ON ALTERNATIVES TO JAIL WAS WRITTEN FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS SEEKING HELP IN FORMULATING POLICIES TO REDUCE OR CONTAIN JAIL POPULATIONS THROUGH THE USE OF VIABLE ALTERNATIVES. THE STUDY SOUGHT TO IDENTIFY PROMISING ALTERNATIVES TO PRE- AND POST-TRIAL DETENTION IN USE IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES ON SELECTING, INITIATING, OPERATING, AND ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THE VARIOUS ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFIED. MATERIALS FOR THESE VOLUMES WERE GATHERED THROUGH A LITERATURE REVIEW, A NATIONAL CENSUS OF SELECTED ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS, DATA COLLECTED FROM PROGRAMS, AND SITE VISITS TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENGIES. THIS VOLUME FIRST EXAMINES A NUMBER OF POLICY ISSUES IN DIVERSION. IT IS NOTED THAT THE IMPACT OF DIVERSION ON PRE- AND POST-TRIAL DETENTION MAY NOT BE GREAT, SINCE MOST OF THE CLIENTS RECEIVING DIVERSION WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GIVEN PRE- OR POST-TRIAL DETENTION IN ANY CASE. HOWEVER, A NUMBER OF DIVERSION PROGRAMS WITH POTENTIAL FOR REDUCING JAIL POPULATIONS ARE IDENTIFIED. SUCH PLANNING ISSUES AS ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS, PRIORITIES IN CASE SELECTION, PROSPECTIVE WORKLOADS, AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONAL AND STAFFING REQUIREMENTS ARE PRESENTED. FINALLY, MAJOR TYPES OF DIVERSION PROGRAMS ARE REVIEWED; THESE ARE ILLUSTRATED BY PRACTICES IN SEVERAL JURISDICTIONS. FOR OTHER VOLUMES IN THIS SERIES, SEE NCJ-42223, 42224, 42241, AND 42251.