NCJ Number
59994
Date Published
1976
Length
58 pages
Annotation
A FINAL REPORT IS PRESENTED ON A 3-YEAR PROGRAM IN KING COUNTY, WASH., WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE IMPROVED PRESENTENCE REPORTS, CONTAINING CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS OF CONVICTED ADULT FELONS, TO THE SUPERIOR COURT.
Abstract
THE COMMUNITY BASED DIAGNOSTIC AND EVALUATION PROJECT, OPERATED FROM OCTOBER 1, 1973, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1976, WAS PLANNED AS A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR FUTURE STATEWIDE PROGRAMS. THE PROJECT'S MAJOR GOALS WERE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CONVICTED FELONS RETAINED IN THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT INCREASING THE RISK TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO INCREASE THE RATE OF SUCCESSFUL COMPLETIONS OF PROBATION. TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS, PRESENTENCE REPORTS WERE TO INCLUDE CLINICAL DIAGNOSES (PSYCHIATRIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND MEDICAL) AS WELL AS THE USUAL CRIMINAL HISTORY. IN ADDITION, COMMUNITY RESOURCES WERE USED TO DEVELOP PROBATION PROGRAMS TAILORED TO MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF EACH OFFENDER. RESULTS FROM 1,628 CASES IN 1974 INDICATED THAT PROBATION REVOCATION RATES FOR OFFENDERS IN THE PROGRAM WERE COMPARABLE TO STATEWIDE RATES FOR 1972. AFTER 6 MONTHS, 84 PERCENT OF THOSE ON PROBATION HAD NO NEW ARRESTS. PROBATION WAS MORE SUCCESSFUL WHERE THE COURT CONCURRED WITH THE PRESENTENCE RECOMMENDATIONS THAN WHEN IT DISAGREED. THE MOST SUCCESSFUL GROUP (WITH A 97 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE) CONSISTED OF OFFENDERS WHO COMPLETED OR WERE STILL TAKING PART IN PROBATION PROGRAMS AFTER 6 MONTHS. ALTHOUGH IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE IF THE COMMUNITY RETAINED AN INCREASED PROPORTION OF CONVICTED FELONS, THE PROGRAM DID PROVIDE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT INTERVENTION FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF THE FELONS INVOLVED. FUTURE RESEARCH IS RECOMMENDED ON THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS, PROBATION SUCCESS, ACCURATE RECORDKEEPING METHODS, FAIR TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, AND OFFENDER EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS. FOOTNOTES, FIGURES TABLES, AND APPENDIXES (INCLUDING STUDY INSTRUMENTS, A REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES, ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS, AND PRESENTENCE RECOMMENDATIONS BY SEX) ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)