NCJ Number
100162
Date Published
1970
Length
69 pages
Annotation
In 1967, the Manhattan Court Employment Project was set up to test if successful employment, coupled with counseling, could change certain defendants' lifestyles within a 3-month period of arrest and before trials were held.
Abstract
During a 90-day trial delay, career developers found jobs for defendants while counselors, themselves ex-offenders and ex-addicts, provided backup support. If the participants did well, their cases were recommended for dismissal. During its 3-year operation, the program served 1,300 participants. Of these, 841 were charged with misdemeanors, 387 with felonies, and 72 with violations. After 3 years of operation, dismissals were being granted in 61 percent of recommended cases (48.2 percent of total participants). The remaining cases were returned to court for trial without prejudice. Those who won dismissals continued to hold down jobs. Few persons were unemployed at 1-year followup, and recidivism rates were low. The project indicates that a pretrial intervention program can effect positive changes in selected defendants' lifestyles. Tables and figures.