Community Service Orders in Federal Probation: Perceptions of Probationers and Host Agencies

• NCJ Number: 126408
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 54 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1990) Pages: 8-14
• Author(s): Allen G F; H Treger
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article describes from the perspective of the offenders a study of Federal probationers who received court-ordered community service (CSO) in the Northern District of Illinois. It uses rehabilitation, deterrence, desert, and justice as models of the criminal justice system to evaluate the programs.

Abstract

Seventy-three probationers and program operators in 38 agencies were interviewed to obtain information regarding the characteristics of CSO probationers; their perceptions of the CSO; tasks performed by CSO probationers; comparison of offenders with non-offender volunteers; and host agency characteristics, experiences, and recommendations. Results of the study show that community service in the Northern District of Illinois is effective and is perceived primarily as rehabilitative rather than punitive by both probationers and host agency operators. Recommendations are presented regarding selection, placement, and monitoring of CSO programs and for further research studies. 3 notes and 14 references