PROJECT CROSSROADS AS PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION - A PROGRAM EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 10328
• Author(s): ROVNER-PIECZENIK
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 45 pages
• Grant Number(s): 82-34-68-15 (LABOR)
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Labor
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

A COURT DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULT FIRST OFFENDERS IS EVALUATED IN TERMS OF IMPACT ON COURT ADJUDICATION, AND PARTICIPANT RECIDIVISM AND EMPLOYMENT.

Abstract

PROJECT CROSSROADS PROVIDED A 90-DAY COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM OF MANPOWER SERVICES WHICH INCLUDED COUNSELING, JOB PLACEMENT, JOB TRAINING, AND REMEDIAL EDUCATION. THE IMPACT OF PROJECT CROSSROADS WAS QUANTITATIVELY ASSESSED BY KEEPING RECORDS ON EACH PARTICIPANT'S BACKGROUND AND SUBSEQUENT EMPLOYMENT AND JOB PLACEMENT, AND BY SELECTING A CONTROL GROUP TO SERVE AS A YARDSTICK AGAINST WHICH PROJECT PARTICIPANTS COULD BE COMPARED. THE DATA ON EMPLOYMENT REVEALED THAT PARTICIPATION IN THE PROJECT INCREASED THE OFFENDER'S CHANCE OF FAVORABLE EMPLOYMENT. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT RECIDIVISM WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DECREASED FOR PROJECT PARTICIPANTS COMPARED TO A CONTROL SAMPLE. THE YOUNGEST OF PROJECT PARTICIPANTS DID NOT HAVE A REDUCED RECIDIVISM RATE. CHARACTERISTICS WHICH APPEAR TO BEAR SOME RELATIONSHIP TO SUCCESS, EITHER IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT OR NON-RECIDIVISM, ARE CALCULATED. SOME OF THE FACTORS UNDER CONSIDERATION ARE SKILL LEVEL, FAMILY, EDUCATION. THE CONCLUSION IS THAT PROJECT CROSSROADS DETERRED RECIDIVISM AND STABILIZED EMPLOYMENT FOR PARTICIPANTS.