by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
A University of North Florida crime expert’s study found the City’s initial experiment with pretrial diversions has become an “enormous resource” and should be expanded to save money and curtail area crime.
Associate criminal justice professor Michael Hallet’s evaluation found that the program, only intended as a trial run, has actually had a measurable effect on re-arrest rates. The Pretrial Services Program diverts participants, usually confessors of less-severe crimes, into a program including work release, substance abuse treatment and urinalysis.
The PSP saves money by keeping less-violent criminals out of overcrowded jails and targets behavioral changes in its participants.
The program is seen as an alternative to “get tough” programs, which often include mandatory sentences and set high bail amounts. In his evaluation, Hallet said the PSP could be promoted as an effective crime-fighting instrument.
“Sheriff John Rutherford wants to sell the program as a ‘get tough on crime program,’” said Hallet. “This is warranted because the Pretrial Services Unit holds offenders accountable, provides the court with valuable information and helps JSO better manage the jail population while restraining spending.”
Among Hallet’s findings:
• Holding offenders in jail by using high bond amounts isn’t necessarily “getting tough.” Hallet found that offenders would sometimes opt for jail time over a diversionary program.
“In short, staying in jail is ‘easier time,’” said Hallet. “They get three hots and a cot and literally have nothing to do.”
• Offenders who spend lengthy amounts of time in jail awaiting trial have that time applied to their sentence, meaning they spend little time in rehabilitative programs and leave, “making no positive contributions.”
• “Diverting an appropriate percent of the offender population under proper supervision expands the ‘crime control’ capacity of JSO.” Hallet found that, if expanded, the PSP could save the City “an astounding $11,000 per day–while holding offenders more accountable and encouraging responsible behavior.”
Even in its limited, introductory application, Hallet found that the PSP reduced the re-arrest rate for participants when compared to standard convicts. One year after release, Hallet’s study showed that 38 percent of PSP offenders had been arrested again.That’s about half the recidivism rate for non-participants.
Because of the encouraging findings, Hallet intends to talk to 4th Circuit Court Chief Judge Donald Moran in September about expanding the project.
“Put another way, this program enhances public safety,” said Hallet’s study. “These folks are not violent offenders, just chronic offenders who are likely to end up in the system again and again anyway. Why not TRY?”