NCJ Number
59982
Date Published
Unknown
Length
69 pages
Annotation
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, REDUCED ITS JAIL POPULATION AND PROVIDED SAFE COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES FOR NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS BY ADAPTING THE DES MOINES, IOWA, ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION PROJECT.
Abstract
THE DES MOINES PROJECT COMBINES RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE AND SUPERVISED PRETRIAL RELEASE WITH INTENSIVE PROBATION AND COMMUNITY BASED CORRECTIONS IN A SYSTEMWIDE APPROACH TO REDUCE INCARCERATION WHILE INSURING COMMUNITY SAFETY. IN 1976, SALT LAKE CITY WAS ONE OF 5 COMMUNITIES FUNDED BY LEAA TO TEST THE ADAPTABILITY OF THE DES MOINES CONCEPT TO OTHER SYSTEMS. PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PROGRAM WERE GUARDED BUT THE PROJECT DID IMPROVE TOWARDS THE COURT AND PROBATION, ESPECIALLY AMONG THOSE CITIZENS WHO CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE MISDEMEANANT PROBATION PROGRAM AND THE REHABILITATION FACILITY HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH WERE USED BY ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION, BUT THREE-QUARTERS IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PORTION OF THE DES MOINES PROJECT. THE MAJOR IMPACTS RESULTED FROM THE RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE AND SUPERVISED PRETRIAL RELEASE COMPONENTS. BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION, ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF DEFENDANTS WERE RELEASED ON THEIR OWN RECOGNIZANCE; AFTER 15 PERCENT. MOST OF THESE WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON BAIL, BUT A FEW WOULD HAVE REMAINED IN JAIL. PREARRAIGNMENT DISMISSALS FROM 11 PERCENT TO 18 PERCENT AND THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF PREARRAIGNMENT JAIL DAYS DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM DID LITTLE TO REDUCE TRADITIONAL DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED DEFENDANTS. MOST OF THOSE RELEASED WERE EMPLOYED PERSONS WITH FAMILY IN SALT LAKE CITY. TABLES PRESENT STUDY DATA, THE PROGRAM'S BUDGET, AND OFFENDER DATA. (GLR)