Alternatives to Incarceration (From Mental Health for the Convicted Offender Patient and Prisoner, P 195-212, 1977 - See NCJ-72844)

• NCJ Number: 72854
• Author(s): P G Nelson; J L Gallemore; M Rector
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 18 pages
• Sale Source: North Carolina Dept of Correction
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

Rationales underlying the development of alternatives to incarceration are discussed in three workshop addresses.

Abstract

Since no clear evidence exists that incarceration accomplishes anything but protecting the public from the effects of an inmate's behavior, imprisonment should only be used when an offender's past behavior suggests that incarceration is the only way to protect the community. Although no valid methods for predicting dangerousness have been devised, the attempt must still be made to determine for each offender the least restrictive approach necessary to give the community reasonable protection. This implies the development of presentence evaluations that will result in the tailoring of sentences to each offender. As a matter of policy, incarceration should be used sparingly, and a comprehensive battery of alternatives to incarceration, such as fines, restitution, community orders, and intensive probation supervision, should be used extensively. Legislation should be developed which does not attach mandatory prison sentences to criminal offenses so that alternatives to incarceration can become options, based on presentence evaluations. Excerpts from the workshop discussion are provided.