PRETRIAL RELEASE WITH SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR 'HIGH RISK' DEFENDANTS - THE THREE-YEAR EVALUATION OF THE POLK COUNTY (IA) DEPARTMENT OF COURT SERVICES COMMUNITY

• NCJ Number: 15593
• Author(s): D L BROWN; W C GREENE-QUIJANO; C DISON; G E PASELA; J P GOETT
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 108 pages
• Grant Number(s): REPORT NUMBER 3
• Sponsoring Agency: Des Moines Office of Community Development
• Corporate Author: Carter Ctr
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN EVALUATION OF THIS PRETRIAL RELEASE PROGRAM WHICH INVOLVES INTENSIVE COUNSELING, CLASSES ON EMPLOYMENT OR DRUG ABUSE AND REFERRALS TO PUBLIC OR PRIVATE AGENCIES, INDICATING SUBSTANTIAL PROGRAM SUCCESS.

Abstract

COMPARISONS AMONG GROUPS OF DEFENDANTS - PRETRIAL RELEASES COMPARED TO THOSE NOT RELEASED - SERVED AS THE BASIS FOR THE EVALUATION. ASSESSMENT ON 31 INDIVIDUAL, SOCIAL, AND DEMOGRAPHIC DEFENDANT CHARACTERISTICS PROVIDED A PROFILE OF CLIENTS RELEASED TO THE PROJECT, AND THESE WERE CONTRASTED WITH TWO CONTROL GROUPS. IT WAS FOUND THAT MORE THAN 98 PERCENT OF THE PROJECT'S CLIENTS APPEARED FOR TRIAL, AND THAT THE PROJECT'S DEFENDANTS AND THOSE RELEASED ON MONEY BAIL DID NOT DIFFER AS TO OFFENSE ALLEGATIONS DURING THE RELEASE PERIOD. THE GOAL OF OBTAINING SAFE PRETRIAL RELEASE FOR HIGH RISK DEFENDANTS WAS CONSIDERED TO BE MET. THE PROJECT'S EXISTENCE SAVED 25,681 DEFENDANT JAIL DAYS. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, DEFENDANTS WERE ALSO ABLE TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. POSITIVE RESULTS WERE FOUND WITH RESPECT TO COURT OUTCOME, FINANCIAL COST EFFECTIVENESS, AND SOCIETAL EFFECTIVENESS. THE SECONDARY GOAL OF REDUCING FUTURE RECIDIVISM WAS ALSO TENTATIVELY CONSIDERED TO BE ACHIEVED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) DES MOINES