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SAN DIEGO COUNTY (CA) - PROBATION DEPARTMENT VILLA DEL SOL - EVALUATION, 1976

NCJ Number
59692
Date Published
1976
Length
44 pages
Annotation
A MINIMUM-SECURITY ALTERNATIVE TO JAIL INCARCERATION FOR FEMALE OFFENDERS, OPERATED BY THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIF., PROBATION DEPARTMENT, IS EVALUATED IN TERMS OF CLIENT OUTCOMES.
Abstract
VILLA DEL SOL OFFERS A WORK FURLOUGH PROGRAM FOR SENTENCED WOMEN IN ADDITION TO A DIVERSIFIED CUSTODIAL AND TREATMENT PROGRAM. THE FACILITY ACCOMMODATES A MAXIMUM OF 30 WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING COURT-IMPOSED CONFINEMENT ON SENTENCES OR AS A CONDITION OF PROBATION. IN ITS 5 YEARS OF OPERATION, VILLA DEL SOL HAS RECEIVED 583 CLIENTS. THE FACILITY'S FAILURE RATE HAS BEEN 15 PERCENT (13 PERCENT RETURN TO COUNTY JAIL, 2 PERCENT ESCAPE). THE EVALUATION FOCUSES ON CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS, THE WORK FURLOUGH COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM, AND CORRECTIONAL OUTCOMES. A 1-YEAR FOLLOWUP OF 130 WOMEN WHO WERE RELEASED FROM VILLA DEL SOL DURING FISCAL 1974-75 FOUND A RECIDIVISM RATE (ARRESTS AND/OR INCARCERATION) OF 36.9 PERCENT. THAT RATE COULD NOT BE COMPARED TO RATES FOR A CONTROL OR COMPARISON POPULATION. HOWEVER, IT WAS FOUND THAT, IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO VILLA PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, THE STUDY SUBJECTS HAD AN ARREST RATE OF 1.84 OFFENSES PER SUBJECT. THIS RATE DROPPED TO 0.86 IN THE YEAR AFTER PROGRAM PARTICIPATION. ON THE BASIS OF THE EVALUATION FINDINGS, THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED: (1) REDESIGNING CLIENT RECORDS TO SHOW LEVEL OF PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, (2) LEGITIMIZING THE VILLA'S BUDGET BY INCLUDING NECESSARY STAFF POSITIONS (INSTEAD OF BORROWING PERSONNEL FROM OTHER OFFICES), (3) ADDING ADEQUATE CLERICAL SUPPORT, (4) INTEGRATING THE VILLA EXPERIENCE INTO THE TOTAL CORRECTIONAL PROCESS FOR WOMEN ON PROBATION BY RESTRUCTURING CASELOAD ASSIGNMENT PRACTICES WITHIN THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, AND (5) MAKING THE VILLA PROGRAM MORE FOCUSED. THE EVALUATION REPORT INCLUDES A SUMMARY, DETAILS OF PROGRAM OPERATIONS AND CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS, A COST-BENEFIT ASSESSMENT, AND SUPPORTING DATA. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED -- LKM).