NCJ Number
25998
Date Published
Unknown
Length
118 pages
Annotation
MONOGRAPH PRESENTING A PAPER ON THE ISSUES AND MECHANICS OF ADULT PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND ANALYZING THE PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION DESIGN IN THREE COMMUNITIES.
Abstract
OVER THE PAST DECADE, 'DIVERSION' HAS BECOME A FAVORED TERM USED TO DESCRIBE ANY NUMBER OF PROCEDURES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ACCUSED OR CONVICTED OFFENDERS WITH AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONALLY PRESCRIBED CORRECTIONAL ACTIONS. THE SUBJECT FOR THIS MONOGRAPH IS PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION, AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR STRATEGY FOR PROVIDING SELECTED CRIMINAL COURT CASES WITH ACCESS TO REHABILITATIVE SERVICES IN LIEU OF NORMAL PROSECUTION. THROUGH A REVIEW OF THE DIVERSION PROCESS AND THE FINDINGS OF EARLY EVALUATION EFFORTS, THIS DOCUMENT EXPRESSES SOME SERIOUS RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAMS. TWO PAPERS EXPLORING THE MAJOR ISSUES AND MECHANICS OF ADULT PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED. THE FIRST IS DRAWN FROM AN EVALUATION OF RESEARCH ON PRE-TRIAL SERVICES PREPARED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. BASED ON AN EXAMINATION OF AVAILABLE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION DOCUMENTS, THIS PAPER ATTEMPTS TO DEFINE JUST WHAT IS KNOWN REGARDING THE EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY AND EQUITY OF ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS. THE SECOND PAPER DESCRIBES THE MECHANICS OF THE PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION DESIGN IN THREE COMMUNITIES. BASED ON AVAILABLE DOCUMENTATION AND BRIEF ON-SITE VISITS, THIS SECTION BEGINS WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE MAJOR OPERATING COMPONENTS OF ALL THREE PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHTING BOTH THEIR COMMON AND DISTINCTIVE FEATURES. THE SUMMARY IS FOLLOWED BY SEPARATE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SELECTION, SERVICE DELIVERY AND TERMINATION OF PROCEDURES IN EACH SITE.