NCJ Number
59473
Editor(s)
B R ISARD
Date Published
1975
Length
284 pages
Annotation
THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION'S NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL REFORM PROGRAM, KNOWN AS BAR ASSOCIATION SUPPORT TO IMPROVE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES (BASICS) STIMULATED MANY PROPOSALS BUT FAILED TO INSPIRE LONG-TERM BAR EFFORTS.
Abstract
THIS EVALUATION OF A STUDY GRANT AND BAR ACTIVATION PROGRAM IS BASED ON QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES, INTERVIEWS, SITE VISITS, AND PUBLISHED DATA. THE TWO PRINCIPAL GOALS OF THE BASICS PROGRAM ARE CORRECTIONAL REFORM AND BAR ACTIVATION. IT WAS HOPED THAT THE STUDY GRANTS WOULD INSPIRE LONG-TERM COMMITMENTS OF BAR ASSOCIATIONS, ESPECIALLY MINORITY BAR ASSOCIATIONS, TO CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS. A TOTAL OF 81 BASICS GRANTS WERE GIVEN TO 77 BAR ASSOCIATIONS IN 41 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO, AND AMERICAN SAMOA. MORE THAN HALF THE PROJECTS HAD BEEN CONCEIVED BEFORE BASICS BEGAN, BUT THE BASICS FUNDING MADE IMPLEMENTATION POSSIBLE. THE PROJECTS INVOLVED IMPROVED JAIL FACILITIES AND SERVICES (18 PERCENT), OFFENDER LEGAL SERVICES (15 PERCENT), PRETRIAL DIVERSION (13 PERCENT), AND ALTERNATIVES TO CONFINEMENT AND COMPREHENSIVE CORRECTIONAL CODE REFORM OR CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM RESTRUCTURING (10 PERCENT EACH), RESTORATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND REMOVAL OF EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS (10 PERCENT), AND IMPROVED GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES (8 PERCENT), AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF MIXED PROJECTS. ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAM HOPED TO INVOLVE MINORITY BAR ASSOCIATIONS, ONLY ONE MINORITY BAR APPLIED FOR A GRANT, EVEN THOUGH SEVERAL STATE BAR RECIPIENTS HAD MINORITY ASSOCIATION MEMBERS. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, THE LARGEST SINGLE GRANT ($10,000) WAS GIVEN TO THE NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION TO BE ADMINISTERED IN COOPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BLACK LAWYERS. THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING BAR ACTIVATION, NOT JUST AD HOC ACTION, IS DISCUSSED. CHARTS, STATISTICS, EVALUATION MATERIALS, AND A LIST OF GRANTS AWARDED ARE APPENDED. (GLR)