NCJ Number
65075
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 172-177
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A SAMPLE OF CLIENTS REFERRED TO THE COUNSELING SERVICE OF THE ALASKA PUBLIC DEFENDER AGENCY IS COMPARED TO A GROUP OF DEFENDANTS NOT REFERRED TO THE COUNSELING PROJECT TO DETERMINE DIFFERENCES IN THE TWO GROUPS.
Abstract
THE OFFENDER REHABILITATION PROJECT (ORP), WHICH WAS DEVELOPED IN THE ANCHORAGE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AGENCY IN 1971, IS DESIGNED TO OFFER COUNSELING AND REHABILITATION SERVICES AND DEVELOP SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES FOR CLIENTS PERCEIVED AS EXPERIENCING SERIOUS LIFE CRISES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEIR LEGAL DIFFICULTIES. ORP IS MOST HEAVILY INVOLVED IN TWO PHASES OF THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS: (1) HELP ATTORNEYS PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE PSYCHIATRIC DEFENSE DURING THE TRIAL PHASE; AND (2) DEVELOPING SENTENCING PLANS TO OFFER THE COURT FOR REFERRED CLIENTS. THE REHABILITATION PLAN OFFERED IN A RECOMMENDED SENTENCING ALTERNATIVE IS THE PRODUCT OF CLIENT EVALUATION, COUNSELING, AND CONTACT WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCE PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE CLIENT'S CASE. A TOTAL OF 26 CLIENTS REFERRED TO ORP WAS CHOSEN AT RANDOM FROM A GROUP OF REFERRALS HAD UNDERGONE AT LEAST 6 HOURS OR MORE OF COUNSELING AND COMPARED TO 30 NON-REFERRED DEFENDANTS SELECTED FROM THE FILES OF THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ALASKA. STATISTICALLY, THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS OF DEFENDANTS WAS IN THE AREA OF REFERRAL FOR PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION DURING THE PRETRIAL PHASE OF THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. THIS ARISES FROM THE FACT THAT REFERRALS ARE MADE BY ATTORNEYS FOR WHOM ISSUES OF CLIENT NEEDS ARE MIXED WITH THE PLANNING OF LEGAL STRATEGIES FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE CLIENT. A WIDER SCREENING AND REFERRAL NETWORK MIGHT INCREASE ORP'S USEFULNESS IN SERVING OFFENDER REHABILITATION AIMS. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)