NCJ Number
11964
Date Published
1974
Length
133 pages
Annotation
INFORMATION ON NATIONWIDE PROGRAMS WHICH ATTEMPT TO ALLEVIATE PROBLEMS OF THE COURT, REDUCE PRETRIAL DETENTION AND FIND ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION.
Abstract
THIS HANDBOOK IS ONE OF A SERIES OF PRESCRIPTIVE PACKAGES SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATORS AND PRACTITIONERS WITH BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES IN SELECTED PROGRAM AREAS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PACKAGE IS TO OFFER CONCRETE SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING MISDEMEANANT CORRECTIONAL AND LOWER COURT PRACTICES. ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BASED ON BOTH RESEARCH AND EXPERIENCE DRAWN FROM PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT EXPLORES SUCH TOPICS AS COURT DELAY, PRETRIAL JAIL DETENTION, USE OF PRESENTENCE REPORTS, AND SPECIAL MISDEMEANANT TREATMENT PROGRAMS. ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION ARE ALSO EXAMINED. THE GUIDE IS IN FOUR PARTS. THE BODY OF THE REPORT DEALS WITH THE PRETRIAL PERIOD, TRIAL AND SENTENCE, CONVICTED MISDEMEANANTS NOT COMMITTED TO JAIL, COMMITTED MISDEMEANANTS, THE POST-INSTITUTIONAL PERIOD, AND ESTABLISHING REPORTING AND EVALUATION MECHANISMS FOR THE MISDEMEANANT JUSTICE SYSTEM. PROBLEM AREAS ARE HIGHLIGHTED AND PROGRAMS WHICH IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEM ARE NOTED. APPENDIX A IS A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND CONTAINS EIGHT SECTIONS - (1) MODELS, MANUALS, AND STANDARDS, (2) MULTISTATE SURVEYS, (3) STATEWIDE STUDIES, (4) LOCAL STUDIES, (5) CLASSIFICATION, (6) PROGRAMS FOR INMATES, (7) NONINSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS, AND (8) A BIBLIOGRAPHY. APPENDIX B CONSISTS OF DESCRIPTIVE REPORTS ON 11 EXISTING PROGRAMS OR PROJECTS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE NATION. THESE REPORTS GO INTO FAR MORE DETAIL THAN IS POSSIBLE IN THE MAIN TEXT REGARDING SUCH ASPECTS OF MISDEMEANANT PROGRAMS AS DEVELOPMENT, ADMINISTRATION, ORGANIZATION, COST, AND FUNDING. APPENDIX C IS A LISTING OF OTHER PROGRAMS CITED IN THE TEXT.