NCJ Number
50281
Date Published
1978
Length
36 pages
Annotation
THE COMPTON, CALIF., TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES TO STREET CRIME (TASC) WAS DESIGNED TO SYSTEMATICALLY IDENTIFY DRUG ABUSERS ENTERING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, REFER THEM TO TREATMENT, AND MONITOR THEIR PROGRESS.
Abstract
POTENTIAL CLIENTS WERE IDENTIFIED THROUGH MUNICIPAL COURT REFERRALS; THE TARGET POPULATION CONSISTED MAINLY OF DRUG-DEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES OR WERE ELIGIBLE FOR DIVERSION. PROGRAM FUNCTIONS DISCUSSED INCLUDE IDENTIFICATION OF THE CLIENT AND DIVERSION TO TREATMENT, MONITORING THE CLIENT'S PROGRESS, AND REPORTING THE PROGRESS TO THE REFERRAL SOURCE. THE IDENTIFICATION FUNCTION ENTAILED DIVERSION AT ARRAIGNMENT, PRETRIAL DIVERSION, AND POSTCONVICTION PROCESS. THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ENTERING THE PROGRAM MONTHLY DID NOT EXCEED 30. THE DIVERSION FUNCTION INCLUDED EVALUATION OF THE CLIENTS, PLACEMENT OF CLIENTS IN A TREATMENT FACILITY, AND THE USE OF VARIOUS TREATMENT MODALITIES. MONITORING WAS CONDUCTED IN TEAMS AND THE CONTACTS BETWEEN THE STAFF AND THE TASC CLIENTS WERE REVIEWED WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE TYPE OF CONTACT, THE REASON FOR CONTACT, AND WHETHER THE CLIENT CONTACTED THE COMMUNITY WORKER OR DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICER. URINALYSIS WAS A MAJOR CRITERIA FOR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM COMPLETION; THE CLIENTS WERE REQUIRED TO REMAIN DRUG-FREE FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS BEFORE RETURNING TO COURT FOR TERMINATION. LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ACTED AS COMPLIANCE OFFICERS TO COORDINATE WARRANT SERVICES AND REPORT ON CLIENT CONTACTS. AT LEAST TWO REPORTS WERE ISSUED BY THE STAFF IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH CLIENT. A PROFILE OF CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS IS INCLUDED. DURING ITS 18-MONTH OPERATION THE PROGRAM IDENTIFIED AND DIVERTED 356 DRUG-DEPENDENT PERSONS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WITH 26 SUCCESSFULLY TERMINATED FOLLOWING A PROGRAM COMMITMENT OF 1 YEAR. THE PROGRAM IS EVALUATED ACCORDING TO PROGRAM OBJECTIVES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE PROGRAM INTAKE WAS LOWER THAN EXPECTED, THAT THE IMPACT ON CLIENTS' CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT WAS SIGNIFICANT, AND THAT THE PROGRAM PROVIDED A COST-EFFECTIVE AND SOCIALLY BENEFICIAL ALTERNATIVE TO CONTINUED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESSING FOR DRUG-INVOLVED OFFENDERS. THE PROGRAM DID FORMALIZE A SYSTEM FOR DIVERSION, TREATMENT, MONITORING, AND REPORTING. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT GOALS BE ESTABLISHED TO BENEFIT THE SPONSORING AGENCY'S WORK PRODUCT, CONTINUOUS INPUT AND SUPPORT FROM THE SPONSORING AGENCY BE MAINTAINED, PERIODIC EVALUATIONS BE MADE, AND PROGRAM STAFF BE ADVISED ON CONTRACT STATUS AND BE USED ACCORDING TO THEIR TRAINING SPECIALTIES. (DAG)