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PHILCOURT (PHILADELPHIA ADULT PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND COURT OF COMMON PLEAS) PROJECT - REFUNDING EVALUATION REPORT

NCJ Number
28019
Author(s)
P RUSSELL
Date Published
1975
Length
56 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT OF THIS COURT PROJECT WHICH PROVIDES SOCIAL, EMPLOYMENT, VOCATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL AND LEGAL INTERVENTIVE SERVICES FOR DEFENDANTS WHO ARE AWAITING TRIAL OR WHO HAVE BEEN DIVERTED FROM PROSECUTION.
Abstract
THIS PROJECT OFFERS CONDITIONAL RELEASE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PRE-TRIAL DETENTION FOR THOSE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR TEN PERCENT BAIL OR RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE (ROR), AND PROVIDES SUPERVISION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR CLIENTS. CLIENTS ARE ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM ON BOTH A FORMAL AND INFORMAL BASIS. OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED PHILCOURT CLIENTS ARE DRAWN FROM: 1) COURT REFERRALS; 2) ROR REFERRALS; AND 3) ROR 'REJECT' LIST. EVALUATION ACTIVITIES CONSISTED OF SITE VISITS TO PHILCOURT AND THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. A REVIEW OF ALL PROJECT INFORMATION AND AN EXAMINATION OF TWO SAMPLE GROUPS: A RANDOM SAMPLE OF ALL CLIENTS ENTERING PHILCOURT BETWEEN JULY 1, 1974 AND DECEMBER 31, 1974, AND A RANDOM SAMPLE OF SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED CLIENTS WITH A YEAR'S FOLLOW-UP SINCE MARCH 1972. BY EXTRAPOLATING THE DATA RESULTS OF THE SAMPLES IT WAS FOUND THAT 48.8 PERCENT OF THE FIRST SIX MONTHS CLIENTS (396) WERE COMPLETED, LEAVING 51.2 PERCENT STILL IN THE ACTIVE STAGE. FIFTY-NINE PERCENT OF THE COMPLETIONS WERE SUCCESSFUL AND 82.6 PERCENT OF THESE RECEIVED POSITIVE AND NON-INCARCERATED RESULTS. MANY OF THEM HAD THEIR CHARGES DISMISSED. A FEW CLIENTS WERE FOUND NOT GUILTY. EACH COMPLETED CLIENT WAS SEEN AN AVERAGE OF 6.5 TIMES. AN INCREASE IN CLIENT INTAKE, JOB-TRAINING PLACEMENT, AND CONDITIONAL RELEASE CLIENTS WAS FOUND. SAVINGS RESULTING FROM THE CONDITIONAL RELEASE PROGRAM ARE REVIEWED. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROJECT BE REFUNDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)