NCJ Number
45236
Date Published
1978
Length
21 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT EVALUATES THE YELLOWSTONE COUNTY, MONTANA, DEFERRED PROSECUTION PROGRAM, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR CASES INVOLVING FIRST OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN YELLOWSTONE COUNTY IN SEPTEMBER 1975. ITS PURPOSES WERE TO: (1) SEPARATE LESS SERIOUS OFFENDERS FROM HARDENED CRIMINALS AND PROVIDE THE FIRST OFFENDER WITH LESS COSTLY, MORE EFFECTIVE MEANS OF TREATMENT THAN TRADITIONAL PROSECUTION AND INCARCERATION; (2) INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY IN PROVIDING POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES THROUGH EMPLOYMENT, SCHOOLING, VOLUNTEER WORK, AND COUNSELING; AND (3) LESSEN THE BURDEN ON JUDICIAL AGENCIES BY DIVERTING FIRST OFFENDERS OF 'LOW SOCIAL RISK' CRIMES. AN EVALUATION OF EACH OF THE SPECIFIC PROGRAM OBJECTIVES SHOWED THAT THE PROGRAM WAS SLOWER, WAS SOMEWHAT MORE COSTLY, SERVED FEWER PEOPLE, AND REDUCED THE FULL PROSECUTION CASELOAD IN THE COUNTY LESS THAN HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN ANTICIPATED. IT WAS CONCLUDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE PROGRAM WAS WORTHWHILE, AND MANY OF THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WERE SEEN AS RESULTS OF THE FACT THAT THE PROJECT WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE. THE ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES WERE MODIFIED. AS THE PROGRAM DID PROVE ITSELF COST BENEFICIAL, IT WAS FUNDED INTO A SECOND YEAR WITH THE MODIFIED OBJECTIVES REMAINING ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED. STATISTICS CONCERNING THE FIRST YEAR'S OPERATION ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR AND GRAPHIC FORM; DATA INCLUDED DEAL WITH CHARACTERISTICS OF INMATES ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM, REASONS FOR ANY REJECTIONS, AND TERMINATIONS.