NCJ Number
66058
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1980) Pages: 3-22
Date Published
1980
Length
20 pages
Annotation
ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO RESTITUTION DEVELOPED BY 15 SELECTED JUVENILE COURTS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE 15 COURTS WERE SELECTED FROM 133 RANDOMLY SELECTED COURTS RECENTLY SURVEYED. THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT ALTHOUGH MANY JUVENILE COURTS REQUIRE OFFENDERS TO MAKE RESTITUTION TO THEIR VICTIMS, ONLY A FEW JURISDICTIONS HAVE DEVELOPED THE PROCEDURES, RESOURCES, AND CAPACITY TO PERMIT RESTITUTION TO BECOME A MAJOR ALTERNATIVE TO THE TRADITIONAL DISPOSITIONS OF PROBATION OR INCARCERATION. THE PRESENT STUDY WAS CONDUCTED BY MEANS OF SITE VISITS, OBSERVATIONS, AND INDEPTH INTERVIEWS. RESULTS INDICATED SEVEN MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL DIMENSIONS: GOALS AND PURPOSES, TYPES OF RESTITUTION, SCOPE OF ELIGIBILITY, PROCEDURES FOR DEVELOPING THE RESTITUTION PLAN, OFFENDER SERVICES, VICTIM SERVICES, AND THE SOURCE OF CONTROL OVER THE RESTITUTION PROCESS. EACH DIMENSION IS A CONTINUUM AND REPRESENTS THE TYPES OF DECISIONS A JURISDICTION WOULD HAVE TO MAKE TO IMPLEMENT A RESTITUTION PROGRAM. USING THESE DIMENSIONS, NUMEROUS DIFFERENT RESTITUTION PROGRAM MODELS CAN BE CONSTRUCTED. BOTH THE RANGE OF MODELS USED AND THE NATURES OF THE 15 MODELS SURVEYED ARE ILLUSTRATED BY THE FOLLOWING 7 GENERAL MODELS: (1) BASIC RESTITUTION MODELS, (2) EXPANDED BASIC MODELS, (3) VICTIM ASSISTANCE MODELS, (4) VICTIM ASSISTANCE/OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY MODELS, (5) EMPLOYMENT/RESTITUTION MODELS, (6) SOCIAL SERVICES MODELS, AND (7) COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY/DETERRENCE MODELS. EACH OF THE 15 PROGRAMS EXAMINED HAS CHARACTERISTICS OF ONE OF THESE MODELS. RELEVANT PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDE ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION, DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESTITUTION PLAN, CASE MANAGEMENT, TYPES OF RESTITUTION/EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS, AND OTHER SERVICES FOR OFFENDER AND VICTIM. TABLES, A FOOTNOTE, AND AN APPENDIX WHICH FURTHER DISCUSSES RESTITUTION MODELS AND THEIR POSSIBLE EXPANSION ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)