Project New Attitudes – Pinellas County Sheriffs Office Simple Cost Benefit Analysis in the Program Evaluation Process – The Political Nature/Solution of Program Funding

Project New Attitudes Life Skills for State and Local Prisoners Program Grant – Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools Funding Period 10/01/2000 – 09/30/2003* Nine Week comprehensive life skills program, followed by full year of case management

Project New Attitudes Program began May, Graduates Offered Service Graduate Recidivism Rate: 23% Control Recidivism Rate: 37% Difference: 50+/-

Project New Attitudes KEYS TO COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS: –Keep it Simple –Estimate Accurately –Estimate Conservatively ** Stress How You Are Being Conservative**

Pinellas County Jail $73 per day, $ 26,647 per year Six month sentence: 180 x73 = $13,140 per inmate/program participant 50 X $13,140 = $657,000 Savings Program Cost = $400,000 $257,000 Tax Payer Saving

Pinellas County Jail This Analysis DOES NOT Include: Actual Sentences – 9 Months – 1 Year Reconsideration/Modification considerations by Judges w/ mandatory participation in aftercare

Cost Benefit Analysis Sell Cost Benefit Analysis –Elected Officials –Potential Funding Sources –Marketing – Press *** Successful Programming is easy to explain as a taxpayer savings. Evaluation is a key, understand political culture***