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NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON PRETRIAL SERVICES, 1978 ASSESSMENT

NCJ Number
52201
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1978
Length
28 pages
Annotation
AFTER ANALYZING PROGRAM PLANNING FOR THE SYMPOSIUM ON PRETRIAL SERVICES, THE ATTENDEE PROFILE, AND EVALUATIONS BY PARTICIPANTS, RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR DEVELOPING SIMILAR SYMPOSIUMS IN THE FUTURE.
Abstract
IN PLANNING THE PROGRAM OF THE SYMPOSIUM, COORDINATORS TRIED TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THE INTERESTS OF A DIVERSE AUDIENCE USING THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES: (1) THE PRETRIAL SERVICES RESOURCE CENTER (PSRC) FILES OF REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION, (2) NOTES ON A NATIONAL PHONE SURVEY, AND (3) INPUT FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PRETRIAL SERVICES AGENCIES BOARD AND OTHER PSRC ADVISORS. FIVE MAJOR TOPICS, DETERMINED TO BE SIGNIFICANT TO THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE, WERE CHOSEN FOR PLENARY SESSIONS AND DESIGNATED AS THE CORE CURRICULUMS. WORKSHOP TOPICS, IDENTIFIED IN A SIMILAR WAY, WERE CHOSEN TO SUPPLEMENT THE CORE SESSIONS. TO ACCOMMODATE THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE OF THE AUDIENCE, WORKSHOPS WERE DESIGNATED AS INTRODUCTORY, GENERAL, AND ADVANCED. SIX SKILL AREAS AIMED AT ADMINISTRATIVE, SUPERVISORY, AND LINE STAFF WERE IDENTIFIED FOR SPECIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS. THE ATTENDEE PROFILE CONSIDERS THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, PROGRAM AFFILIATIONS, PROFESSIONS, AND EXPERIENCES OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. DECISIONS ABOUT FUTURE SYMPOSIUMS RELIED HEAVILY ON ATTENDEE EVALUATIONS OF THE SYMPOSIUM IN GENERAL AND OF EACH WORKSHOP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR. RESULTS ARE TABULATED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE FOLLOWING BE CONSIDERED IN PLANNING FUTURE SYMPOSIUMS: (1) EFFORTS TO ATTRACT A MORE SPECIFIC AND MORE CLEARLY DEFINED AUDIENCE SHOULD CONTINUE; (2) COMPLEMENTARY TRAINING EFFORTS FOR LINE SUPERVISORY STAFF SHOULD BE DEVELOPED; (3) PROGRAM PLANNING SHOULD BEGIN EARLIER; (4) FACULTY SHOULD BE SMALLER AND MORE CLOSELY COORDINATED; (5) POTENTIAL ATTENDEES SHOULD BE NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED WITH MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROGRAM FURTHER IN ADVANCE; (6) THE NUMBER OF PLENARY SESSIONS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY LIMITED; (7) MORE EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PUT ON WORKSHOPS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS; (8) HANDOUTS AND VISUAL AIDS SHOULD BE USED MORE EXTENSIVELY; AND (9) MORE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE PLANNED. (MGB)