Municipal Court Probation Services Department Caseload Review and Discussion of Low-Income Probationers: A Report to the Seattle City Council

• NCJ Number: 107255
• Author(s): R C Baker; V Knox; D Cone
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 43 pages
• Corporate Author: Seattle City Council
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report reviews Seattle Municipal Court (Washington) probation services caseloads from 1982 to 1986 and discusses the completion of court-mandated psychological and substance abuse treatment by low-income probationers.

Abstract

Despite an overall decrease in the annual number of nonincarcerated probation cases, monthly caseloads have increased, largely as a result of an increase in domestic violence and alcohol-related cases with longer probation periods. Since 1982, the average number of cases per counselor has decreased as a result of increases in the number of counselors and the implementation of a program using volunteers to monitor certain cases. It was not possible to assess whether counselors' current caseloads require more or less attention than in previous years. Finally, the unit is performing an increasing number of tasks related to court reports and mandated alcohol assessment in addition to its supervision and monitoring tasks. Available records did not permit an assessment of treatment completion rates or reasons for failures to complete among low-income probationers. Standards should be developed to remedy identified problems. Appendixes provide supplemental information. 2 charts, 6 tables.