NCJ Number
67769
Date Published
1978
Length
57 pages
Annotation
INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AGENCY ADMINISTRATORS AND POLICYMAKERS IN FORMING CONSIDERED JUDGMENTS CONCERNING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GEORGIA'S YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PROGRAM ARE PRESENTED IN THIS REPORT.
Abstract
PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND EVALUATION OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF OFFENDER REHABILITATION AT THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE AGENCY, THIS 1978 REPORT EVALUATES GEORGIA'S YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PROGRAM FOR ITS IMPACT UPON THE SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF PRODUCTIVE SOCIETY AND ABSENCE OF RECIDIVISM. THE EVALUATION FOCUSES ON THOSE ELEMENTS OF OPERATION WHICH WERE PERCEIVED BY THE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS TO BE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE YOUTHFUL OFFENDER ACT OF 1972 (AS AMENDED). PARTICULAR ATTENTION WAS PAID TO THE FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES, OPERATING PROCEDURES, AND OUTCOMES OF THE PROGRAM. STAFF AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AT THE INSTITUTIONS OPERATING THE PROGRAM WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAMATIC EVALUATION. THE FIRST SECTION DESCRIBES THE SCOPE AND INTENT OF THE YOUTHFUL OFFENDER, INSTITUTIONAL ASSIGNMENT, PROVISION OF APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS, SENTENCES (SINCE 1975 DETERMINATE AND CONTRACT-SPECIFIED). THE EVALUATION OF THE YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PROGRAM IN TERMS OF THE APPARENT AGENCY PURPOSE AND LEGISLATIVE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM FINDS SHORTCOMINGS IN THE ENVISIONED REFORMS IN CORRECTIONAL PRACTICE. PARTICULARLY, THE INDIVIDUALLY ORIENTED INDETERMINATE SENTENCE BASED ON A CREATIVE CONTRACTING PROGRAM IS LACKING, AND THE PROGRAM HAS BECOME A SET OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES GEARED TO TRADITIONAL PRISON CONCEPTS. THE SECOND SECTION EVALUATES OFFENDER SERVICES INCLUDING THE INITIAL DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF EACH INMATE; THE FORMULATION OF THE OFFENDER'S CONTRACT; AND THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, CONCLUDING THAT EFFECTIVE CASE MANAGEMENT IS HINDERED BY TOO MUCH PAPERWORK AND TOO LITTLE TIME FOR THE CLIENT. PRERELEASE SERVICES ARE FOUND LACKING A COHESIVE DEPARTMENTAL PHILOSOPHY AND DELIVERY IS CRITIQUED AS FRAGMENTED AND NONRESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS. SECTION THREE EVALUATES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF RECIDIVISM RATES; CONCLUSIONS ARE HINDERED BY THE PRESENCE OF TOO MANY EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES, HOWEVER. DESPITE ALL THE INADEQUACIES DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT, FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE A PLEA FOR REAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE YOUTHFUL OFFENDER ACT, NOT ITS REPEAL. SIX STATISTICAL TABLES AND ONE GRAPH ARE PROVIDED IN THE TEXT.