In approximately 70% of the sample, staff social workers
completed a template form to collect collateral information; in the remainder, the collateral contact could not be reached or refused to cooperate. In some cases, the evaluators also had access to affidavits of probable cause, records from a state hospital, and copies of prior assessments for the court (including reports of prior arrests). Official criminal records and results of psycho- logical testing were not routinely available.