NCJ Number
60528
Journal
Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1979) Pages: 230-241
Date Published
1979
Length
12 pages
Annotation
AN ATTEMPT AT TRUE EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF AN INNOVATIVE SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING TRAFFIC CASES IN THE COURTS IS DESCRIBED, AND RESULTS ARE OFFERED TO GAUGE THE USEFULNESS OF THE APPROACH.
Abstract
THE EVALUATION WAS DESIGNED TO EXAMINE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE SPECIAL ADJUDICATION FOR ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM AND DETERMINE THE IMPACTS ON THOSE IT SERVES. BASICALLY, THE PROGRAM COMBINES ADJUDICATION PROCESSES OF THE COURTS WITH DRIVER IMPROVEMENT FUNCTIONS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE LOCAL SAFETY COUNCIL. CENTRAL FEATURES INCLUDE DEFENDANT DISCRETION IN THE SCHEDULING OF ADJUDICATION APPEARANCES; COMPUTERIZED DRIVING RECORDS; WHICH ARE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE; COUNSELING OF OFFENDERS, INCLUDING DIAGNOSIS OF SPECIFIC PROBLEMS BY A DRIVER IMPROVEMENT ANALYST; APPLICATION OF SANCTIONS AND FINES; AND PUBLIC EDUCATION CONCERNING THE PROGRAM. RANDOM ASSIGNMENT ENTERED THE EVALUATION DESIGN AT THREE POINTS: (1) ASSIGNMENT TO THE PROGRAM, COURT, OR FORFEIT CONDITIONS; (2) ASSIGNMENT TO THE EXPERIMENTAL CONTROL PORTION OF THE DESIGN, THE MAGISTRATE--DECIDED REFERRAL; AND (3) ASSIGNMENT TO TREATMENT WITHIN THE EXPERIMENTAL CONTROL PORTION. THUS, IT WAS POSSIBLE TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM VERSUS OTHER ADJUDICATION; COUNSELING VERSUS NO INVOLVEMENT; REHABILITATION VERSUS NO REHABILITATION, ETC., BY COMPARING OUTCOMES FOR THE VARIOUS GROUPS OF OFFENDERS. RANDOM ASSIGNMENT WAS IMPLEMENTED WITH A SYSTEM OF PREDESIGNATED REFERRALS. TO MAXIMIZE ADHERENCE TO PREDESIGNATED REFERRALS AND THE SYSTEM'S FAIRNESS TO OFFENDERS, SEVERAL SAFEGUARDS WERE INSTITUTED. THE EXPERIMENT RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE PREDESIGNATED REFERRAL PROCEDURE WAS AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF IMPLEMENTING AN EXPERIMENT WITH RANDOM ASSIGNMENT IN A JUDICAL SETTING. THE INTENDED DISTRIBUTION OF CASES TO EXPERIMENTAL AND CONTROL GROUPS WAS ACHIEVED; PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF OFFENDERS WERE BALANCED ACROSS TREATMENT GROUPS. THE PROCESS DID NOT IMPOSE HARDSHIPS OR UNFAIR TREATMENT ON DEFENDANTS, AND COURT OFFICERS WERE GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH THE SYSTEM. THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTION OF THE DESIGN WAS TO STRENGTHEN IMTERPRETATION RESULTS CONCERNING PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. APPLYING THIS METHOD TO OTHER ENVIRONMENTS AND FUTURE PROJECTS, HOWEVER, IS SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS. NOTES AND A DIAGRAM ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)