NCJ Number
46098
Date Published
1977
Length
36 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO A CUSTODIAL SENTENCE IN ENGLAND, RECONVICTION RATES, AND OFFENSE SERIOUSNESS ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THIS IS A SECOND REPORT ON EXPERIMENTAL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS CONDUCTED IN SIX AREAS OF ENGLAND. THE FIRST REPORT DESCRIBED THE NATURE OF THE PROGRAM, WHILE THE PRESENT ONE IS AN EVALUATION OF ITS EFFECTIVENESS. AN ESTIMATE WAS MADE OF THE PROPORTION OF THOSE GIVEN COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS WHO WERE DIVERTED FROM CUSTODY. THIS ESTIMATE IS WITHIN THE 45 TO 50 PERCENT RANGE OF THOSE GIVEN ORDERS. A STUDY OF OVER 1 YEAR OF RECONVICTION RATES FOR THOSE GIVEN COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS DURING THE PROGRAM'S FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION IN EACH OF THE 6 EXPERIMENTAL AREAS REVEALED THAT 44.2 PERCENT OF ALL THOSE SENTENCED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE WERE RECONVICTED WITHIN A YEAR OF THE SENTENCE. THIS WAS IN THE SAME RANGE OF RECONVICTION AS THAT OF A GROUP RECOMMENDED FOR, BUT NOT GIVEN, A COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDER. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF SYSTEMATIC CHANGE IN THE LEVEL OF SERIOUSNESS OF OFFENSES COMMITTED AFTER A SENTENCE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE OR IN THE TIME AT RISK BEFORE RECONVICTION. IT IS NOTED THAT THE SUBJECTS OF THE STUDY WERE THOSE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AT A TIME WHEN THE PROJECT WAS NEW AND DEVELOPING. TABULAR DATA ARE PRESENTED, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PRESENTED.