NCJ Number
36715
Date Published
Unknown
Length
125 pages
Annotation
THE RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE PROGRAM COMPONENT WAS AIMED AT REDUCING THE OVERCROWDED PRETRIAL DETENTION OF ORLEANS PARISH PRISON BY 100 INDIVIDUALS PER MONTH BY OFFERING PRETRIAL RELEASE TO SELECTED OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE PROSECUTORIAL DIVERSION COMPONENT WAS DESIGNED TO REDUCE RECIDIVIST RATES AMONG PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BY 20 PERCENT OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD, AND THE REDUCTION OF COURT AND CORRECTIONAL WORKLOADS BY FIVE PERCENT OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY OFFERING INTENSIVE COUNSELING, EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT SERVICE TO SELECTED OFFENDERS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION AND COURT ADJUDICATION. DURING THE PROGRAM'S FIRST 15 MONTHS OF OPERATION, THE RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE FUNCTION AVERAGED 93.6 RELEASEES PER MONTH, ONLY THREE PERCENT OF WHOM WERE REARRESTED. LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY FAVORABLE COURT APPEARANCE AND BOND FORFEITURE RATES OF 87.6 AND 4.8 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY WERE NOTED. THE DIVERSION PROGRAM SCREENED 353 PERSONS AND ACCEPTED 154. EIGHTY-EIGHT CLIENTS COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. FOR ALL SUCCESSFULLY TERMINATED CLIENTS, ORIGINAL CHARGES WERE DROPPED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR. A TOTAL OF 3.4 PERCENT WERE REARRESTED. COURT WORKLOADS DECREASED BETWEEN 3.5 AND 6 PERCENT AND CORRECTIONAL WORKLOADS BY A LITTLE OVER ONE PERCENT. PROPER AND EFFICIENT GRANTS MANAGEMENT WAS OBSERVED DURING THE EVALUATION PERIOD. COSTS PER CLIENT WERE ESTIMATED TO BE $356 FOR DIVERSIONARY CLIENTS AND $21 FOR INDIVIDUALS RELEASED ON THEIR OWN RECOGNIZANCE. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE PROGRAM IS A WELL-ADMINISTERED GRANT, ADHERING TO ITS OPERATING PROCEDURES, AND MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARD GOAL ATTAINMENT. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROGRAM BE CONTINUED AND EXPANDED IF POSSIBLE. A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. PERTINENT PROGRAM FORMS ARE APPENDED.