NCJ Number
27504
Date Published
1974
Length
25 pages
Annotation
THIS PROJECT INVOLVED THE HIRING OF A PROJECT COORDINATOR AND SIX EX-OFFENDERS AS PROBATION OFFICER HUMAN SERVICE AIDES WITHIN THE CITY PROBATION DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST IN DEALING WITH A SOCIAL NUMBER OF HIGH RISK CLIENTS.
Abstract
CASELOAD SIZE PER JAGUAR AIDE RANGED FROM 12 TO 25 CLIENTS, WITH OVER TWO-THIRDS REQUIRING INTENSIVE SUPERVISION. THE PROGRAM EVALUATION METHODOLOGY WAS BUILT UPON SITE VISITS, CLINICAL INTERVIEWS AND RATINGS, AND STATISTICAL FOLLOW-UP OF NINETY-NINE JAGUAR CLIENTS AND 290 CONTROL CASES. EVALUATORS FOUND THAT THE PARAPROFESSIONALS HAD BEEN MODERATELY WELL ACCEPTED BY OTHER PROBATION OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORS, AND THAT THE OVERALL QUALITY OF THEIR COUNSELING WAS RATED HIGH. FOR CASES OF MAXIMUM DIFFICULTY, JAGUAR AIDES HAD SLIGHTLY LOWER RATES OF CLIENT VIOLATIONS THAN REGULAR (CONTROL) OFFICERS (17.5 PERCENT VS. 24 PERCENT AFTER 3 1/2 MONTHS). THIS DIFFERENCE WAS DUE TO A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RATE OF TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS AND FAILURES TO REPORT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THIS FINDING REFLECTED THE RESULTS OF BETTER RAPPORT AND TIGHTER SUPERVISION. THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JAGUAR AND CONTROL CLIENTS ON REARRESTS FOR NEW CRIMES. A SERIES OF IMMEDIATE STEPS WERE RECOMMENDED TO FURTHER INTEGRATE THE AIDES INTO THE DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTURE. IT WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT MORE ATTENTION BE GIVEN TO DEVELOPING PROGRAMS FOR EX-OFFENDERS IN GENERAL, ESPECIALLY THE SPECIFYING OF CAREER LADDERS FOR THE PARAPROFESSIONAL AIDES. PROJECT CONTINUATION WAS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE NOTED IN THE PROJECT UPDATE.