NCJ Number
245499
Date Published
May 2013
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This research brief presents a brief overview of the Queens Supervised Release program.
Abstract
The pilot program was begun in August 2009 with funding from the Office of the Criminal Justice Coordinator. The objectives of the program are to 1) reduce reliance on money bail and lower pretrial detention for low-risk offenders; 2) minimize both the institutional and individual costs of incarceration; and 3) offer offenders opportunities for voluntary treatment where appropriate as early as possible. A review of the program found that between August 2009 and November 2012, 1,001 clients had been accepted into program and 864 of them had successfully completed it. Half of the participants were age 23 or younger and over 80 percent were male. Only those offenders charged with a nonviolent felony offense were eligible to participate in the program. In addition, over two-thirds of participants were assigned to either the moderate FTA (failure to appear) risk category or the low FTA risk category. Of those who successfully completed the program, completion usually occurred when the case was adjudicated. The review also found that the FTA rate was quite low for program participants (3 percent), and that 22.5 percent of participants were re-arrested while in the program. In addition, those who entered the program on a drug charge, over half of the participants, were the least likely to be re-arrested during program participation. These findings indicate that the program has been successful at keeping low-risk offenders out of jail, reducing incarceration costs for both the City and individuals. This success has led the City to begin efforts to expand the program into Manhattan. 15 figures