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Preliminary Report on Community Control

NCJ Number
98669
Date Published
1984
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This preliminary report describes Florida's community control program and assesses its attainment of stated goals during the first 10 months of operation (10/83-6/84).
Abstract
The program was designed to reduce prison overcrowding; provide a punishment-oriented community alternative to incarceration; and meet a projected caseload of at least 1,700. The program emphasizes the development of responsibility and accountability through punishment sanctions, public service, victim restitution, cost-of-supervision fees, and supervision and surveillance. To date, the program has been implemented successfully in all 20 judicial districts, with a total caseload of 1,886. Caseloads of community control officers (10 percent of probation and parole field staff) are limited to 20 controllees. Preliminary indications suggest that community control cases involve a variety of offenses, with the majority involving burglary, drug violations, larcency, and assault. A majority of judges are ordering public service for 100 to 200 hours per case, and sufficient work has been located with governmental and nonprofit agencies. On the basis of sentencing guidelines, it was determined that 72 percent of the cases are bona fide diversions from prison; the remaining 28 percent consist of diversions from local county jails and cases which probably would have been placed on probation. Findings suggest that the program is meeting its goals and that the confidence of the courts, criminal justice officials, and the public is being maintained. Graphs and tabular data are included.