NCJ Number
58687
Date Published
1977
Length
92 pages
Annotation
AN EVALUATION OF THE CLARK COUNTY PROGRAM OF VANCOUVER, WASH., WHICH INVOLVED VOLUNTEERS WORKING WITH PROBATIONERS ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM BEGAIN IN 1972 TO PROVIDE A NONTHREATENING ROLE MODEL FOR PROBATIONERS WHO WERE SEEN INFREQUENTLY BY PROBATION OFFICERS WITH HEAVY CASELOADS. VOLUNTEERS WERE RECRUITED AND MATCHED WITH PROBATIONERS. BEYOND THAT BASIC COMPONENT WERE ADDED PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE DISTRICT COURT AND DETENTION CARE AND TRAINING, INTERN CASE SUPERVISION, AND FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS. THE RESULTS OF AN EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS OF 118 PROGRAM 'MATCHES' OVER 3 YEARS IN BOTH THE DISTRICT AND JUVENILE COURTS AND 30 FAMILIES RECEIVING FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION ARE UNEQUIVOCALLY POSITIVE. CONTROL GROUPS SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF SEX, AGE, SEVERITY OF ORIGINAL OFFENSE, AND LENGTH OF TIME KNOWN TO THE COURT WERE SHOWN TO BE EQUALLY MATCHED. STATISTICS SHOW THAT FOLLOWING VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN REOFFENDING AND IN SEVERITY OF OFFENSES OF THOSE WHO DO REOFFEND. RECIDIVISM RATES ARE EQUALLY ENCOURAGING FOR THOSE CLIENTS INVOLVED IN FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION GAINED FROM STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND PARENTS OF PROBATIONERS INDICATES THE POSITIVE REGARD FOR THE PROGRAM. ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM COSTS VERSUS GAINS INDICATES A NET GAIN OF OVER $35,000 TO THE COUNTY OVER THE 3-YEAR PERIOD. CONTINUED SUCCESS DEPENDS ON THE COMMITMENT OF THE VOLUNTEER, ONGOING EFFORTS OF A VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, AND SUPPORT OF THE COURT SYSTEM. STATISTICAL TABULAR DATA, APPENDIXES, AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED IN THE EVALUATION. (LWM)