PENNSYLVANIA - CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECTS EVALUATION, SECOND YEAR - FINAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 51269
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 175 pages
• Grant Number(s): SC-77-C-002-0644
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Pennsylvania Governor's Justice Cmssn
• Corporate Author: Pennsylvania State University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A POLICE BURGLARY AND ROBBERY UNIT, THREE VOLUNTEERS-IN-PROBATION PROGRAMS, A REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, AND A REGIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE COUNCIL'S ACTIVITIES ARE EVALUATED.

Abstract

THE EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED BY THE INSTITUTE OF STATE AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOR THE SOUTHCENTRAL REGIONAL COUNCIL OF THE PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR'S JUSTICE COMMISSION. THE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES EVALUATED ARE THOSE FUNDED BY THE COUNCIL AND INCLUDE A BURGLARY AND ROBBERY UNIT OF THE HARRISBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT; VOLUNTEERS-IN-PROBATION PROJECTS IN CUMBERLAND, DAUPHIN, AND LANCASTER COUNTIES; A PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTING A REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR COUNTY PRISONS (JAILS); AND THE COUNCIL'S OWN PLANNING PROGRAM. THE BURGLARY AND ROBBERY UNIT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING BURGLARIES BUT NOT ROBBERIES. DISPOSITION DATA INDICATE THAT ARRESTS MADE BY THE UNIT ARE OF BETTER QUALITY; I.E., MORE SOLIDLY BACKED BY EVIDENCE, THAN ARRESTS MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE UNIT ARE OFFERED. VOLUNTEER PROBATION WORKERS ARE AVAILABLE TO PROBATIONERS MORE FREQUENTLY AND FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME THAN ARE PROBATION OFFICERS. INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND CLIENTS APPEAR TO BE BETTER THAN THOSE BETWEEN CLIENTS AND PROBATION OFFICERS. CLIENTS RECEIVING VOLUNTEER SERVICES HAVE A MUCH LOWER REARREST RATE THAN DO PENNSYLVANIA PROBATIONERS AND PAROLEES IN GENERAL. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS BE CONTINUED AND EXPANDED. THE PLANNED SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR COUNTY PRISONS IS TO BE ORGANIZED ACROSS THE ENTIRE SOUTHCENTRAL REGION, TO USE CENTRALIZED FINANCIAL AND SERVICE RESOURCES AND EXISTING COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED MATERIALS AND TEACHING METHODS RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS OF SHORT-TERM INMATES, TO INTEGRATE WORK-RELEASE AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES. THE COUNCIL IS ADVISED TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN ITS PLANNING ACTIVITIES AND TO SPEAK OUT CONCERNING THE ROLE OF REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING. SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)