NCJ Number
16303
Date Published
1974
Length
269 pages
Annotation
AN EXAMINATION OF 15 DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS, THEIR SUCCESSES, AND THE ADEQUACY OF THEIR EVALUATION COMPONENTS.
Abstract
PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS (PTI) REPRESENT ONE TYPE OF DIVERSION STRATEGY. PTI DIVERTS THE ACCUSED OFFENDER, TYPICALLY AT THE TIME OF ARRAIGNMENT, INTO A SHORT-TERM COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM WITH SUPERVISION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, THE PARTICIPANT RECEIVES A DISMISSAL OF CRIMINAL CHARGES. THIS EVALUATION REPORT ON PRETRIAL INTERVENTION RESEARCH EXAMINES STUDIES OF 15 DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS OFFERING PROSECUTION ALTERNATIVES TO SELECTED CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS. THE REPORT DOCUMENTS THE TECHNICAL ADEQUACY OF PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM EVALUATIONS AND THEIR CONCLUSIONS. FURTHER, POLICYMAKER PERCEPTIONS AND CONCERNS ARE SURVEYED TO DETERMINE EVALUATION RESEARCH ISSUES AND PRIORITIES. ASSESSMENT OF CLAIMS MADE IN PROGRAM REPORTS ARE DISCUSSED AND ANALYZED IN DETAIL WITH FINDINGS SUMMARIZED IN SIX MAJOR CONCLUSIONS. A CONCLUDING SECTION OF THE STUDY IS DEVOTED TO RESEARCH AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS IN PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. INCLUDED IN THE RESEARCH EVALUATION REPORT IS A PRIMER ON ASSESSMENT METHODS AND TECHNIQUES, A CHECKLIST FOR ASSESSING POLICY RELATED RESEARCH ON PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, EVALUATION DESIGN FLOW-CHARTS, CRITERIA FOR VALIDATION CONTROLS, AND A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM EVALUATIONS. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE DATA ON THE PROGRAMS' PARTICIPANT EMPLOYMENT, RECIDIVISM, AND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. (SNI ABSTRACT)