EVALUATION OF THE 'IMPLEMENTATION OF BAIL BOND PROJECT'

• NCJ Number: 15721
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 33 pages
• Grant Number(s): 71-01; 72-23
• Sponsoring Agency: District of Columbia Office of Criminal Justice Plans and Analysis
• Corporate Author: ICF, Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PROGRAM TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED, REDUCE COSTS BY USING EARLY PSYCHIATRIC SCREENING, AND IDENTIFY THE BENEFITS OF EARLY PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT IN THE CASE OF FELONS AWAITING PRETRIAL PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATION.

Abstract

THE PROJECT WAS BASED ON THE EXCESSIVE HOLDING TIME IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (D.C.) JAIL HOSPITAL FOR FELONS AWAITING ADMISSION TO ST. ELIZABETH'S HOSPITAL FOR EXAMINATION, ON THE LACK OF FACILITIES TO PROVIDE EVALUATION, AND ON THE CREATION OF A COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION IN THE D.C. BAIL AGENCY. THE PROJECT INCREASED THE STAFF OF PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS, INITIATED A PROGRAM OF SCHEDULED WEEKLY VISITS TO THE D.C. JAIL TO PERFORM PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS, AND OPENED A UNIT AT THE D.C. SUPERIOR COURT TO PERFORM PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS ON AN IMMEDIATE COURT REFERRAL BASIS. THE EVALUATION WAS LIMITED TO A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS IN TERMS OF DOLLAR SAVINGS AND REDUCTIONS IN MAN-DAYS OF DETENTION. THE COURT UNIT SAVED $77,000 AND OVER 9000 DAYS OF UNNECESSARY DETENTION. THE PROJECT ACHIEVED THE NEAR ELIMINATION OF THE NECESSITY TO HOLD PERSONS ACCUSED OF FELONIES IN THE D.C. JAIL UNTIL BEDS BECAME AVAILABLE AT ST. ELIZABETH'S HOSPITAL. INCLUDED ARE DATA ON COSTS, PATIENT PROCESSING, AND EVALUATION METHOD.