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CITIZENS PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM - A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

NCJ Number
43942
Author(s)
M E MIHALY
Date Published
1976
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF A PRETRIAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR ACCUSED FELONS IN SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO, ARE COMPARED WITH THOSE OF TRADITIONAL METHODS OF CASE DISPOSITION.
Abstract
THE CITIZENS PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM PROVIDES INTENSIVE COUNSELING AND OTHER REHABILITATIVE SERVICES TO SELECTED CLIENTS. WHEN A CLIENT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN HIS CONTRACT WITH THE PROGRAM, A REQUEST FOR DISMISSAL OF HIS PENDING CASE IS MADE TO THE COURT. EACH YEAR THE PROGRAM SCREENS APPROXIMATELY 125 POTENTIAL CLIENTS, 100 OF WHOM ARE ACCEPTED FOR THE PROGRAM. SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM IN 1974, NOT ONE REQUEST FOR DISMISSAL HAS BEEN DENIED BY THE COURTS. THE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS IS BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PROGRAM'S FIRST 50 CLIENTS AS COMPARED TO THAT OF 50 ACCUSED FELONS WHOSE CASES WERE HANDLED THROUGH TRADITIONAL DISPOSITION METHODS (DISCHARGE WITHOUT SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, RELEASE ON PROBATION, OR INCARCERATION). COSTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO OCCURRENCES IN EACH CASE WERE DETERMINED, AS WERE SUCH BENEFITS AS EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION. THE ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT IT COSTS THREE TIMES MORE TO PROCESS CLIENTS THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM THAN IT DOES TO DIVERT THEM THROUGH PRETRIAL INTERVENTION. THUS THE INTERVENTION PROGRAM IS CONCLUDED TO HAVE A 3-TO-1 COST-BENEFIT RATIO OVER ALTERNATIVE DISPOSITION METHODS. THE SOCIAL COST OF THE PROBATION/INCARCERATION ALTERNATIVE IS SHOWN TO BE INCREASED RECIDIVISM (24 PERCENT AS COMPARED TO 6 PERCENT FOR THE INTERVENTION PROGRAM), AND THEREFORE MORE CRIME. METHODOLOGICAL DETAILS OF THE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS AND SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.

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