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COMMUNITY RESTITUTION COMES TO ARIZONA (FROM OFFENDER RESTITUTION IN THEORY AND ACTION, 1978, BY BURT GALAWAY AND JOE HUDSON - SEE NCJ-49547)

NCJ Number
49559
Author(s)
R KELDGORD
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A PIMA COUNTY, ARIZ., PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SELECTED PROBATIONERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPAY THE COMMUNITY FOR COSTS INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE PROBATIONERS' LAW VIOLATIONS IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE COMMUNITY RESTITUTION IN SERVICE PROGRAM (CRISP) EVOLVED FROM A SENTENCE PASSED BY A JUDGE UPON A DRUNKEN DRIVER WHO WAS CONVICTED OF VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER. THE OFFENDER, WHO HAD BEEN SENTENCED TO JAIL SEVERAL TIMES, HAD COST TAXPAYERS A SUBSTANTIAL SUM OF MONEY. THE JUDGE SENTENCED HIM TO PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE AT THE COUNTY HOSPITAL, WHERE HE WAS TO WORK FOR AN ALCOHOL COUNSELING PROGRAM AND OBSERVE THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY PEOPLE WHO DRINK AND DRIVE. FROM THIS BEGINNING, THE PIMA COUNTY CRISP PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED, SERVING 129 PROBATIONERS (4 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL PROBATION POPULATION) BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1976, AND JUNE 30, 1977. CRISP SENTENCES ARE DIRECTED BY THE COURT (75 PERCENT OF THE CASES) OR BY PROBATION OFFICERS. SOMETIMES AN EFFORT IS MADE TO ASSIGN THE PROBATIONER TO A CRISP ACTIVITY DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CRIME (E.G., REQUIRING YOUNG MEN CONVICTED OF ARSON TO DONATE SERVICE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT). SOME CRISP PROBATIONERS HAVE OBTAINED PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT AS A RESULT OF THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE. EVALUATION STUDIES FOUND SATISFACTION WITH CRISP PROBATIONERS' PERFORMANCE AMONG 72 PERCENT OF THE COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND 100 PERCENT OF THE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS INVOLVED. OF 129 PROBATIONERS, 3 FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE CRISP ACTIVITY REQUIREMENT AND HAD THEIR PROBATION REVOKED. (LKM)