Approximately 52 percent of the 3,232 felony defendants interviewed actually entered the experimental SPR study. They had an average of five prior arrests and two prior convictions. Twenty-two percent faced criminal charges for burglary; 12 percent, for theft; 11 percent, for assault; 10 percent, for robbery; and 10 percent, for drug-related crimes. Most were young (16 - 26-years-old), male (89 percent), and unmarried (89 percent). Defendants were randomly assigned to two test groups: a supervision-only group and a supervision-plus-services group. The median length of supervision was 48 days. During that time, an average of 16 telephone contacts and 12 face-to-face contacts were made by staff per defendant. Eighty percent met the required number of weekly phone contacts, but only 60 percent met the required number of face-to-face contacts. Eighty-six percent appeared for all of their required hearings; fugitive rates were low in all three sites, ranging from 2 percent in Milwaukee and Portland to 8 percent in Miami. Based upon data collected for the SPR clients and upon other felony bookings, SPR hypothetically saved 93,408 detention days, or a total of 256 beds, for the three sites. Three simulations are presented to illustrate how SPR can add or reduce criminal justice costs. Two references are included.
Supervised Pretrial Release Test Design Evaluation - Executive Summary
NCJ Number
95221
Date Published
1984
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Results of the implementation of the Key program elements of supervised pretrial release (SPR) at three sites -- Dade County, Fla.; Milwaukee County, Wis.; and Multomah County, Ore. -- are evaluated.
Abstract
Date Published: January 1, 1984