NCJ Number
158987
Date Published
1996
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This chapter examines the extent to which community corrections and intermediate sanctions are addressing the current correctional crisis in America.
Abstract
The crisis in corrections is fueled by two incompatible and powerful forces: the increase in inmate populations and the number of offenders under community supervision, as well as increasing fiscal constraints on State and local governments. Before reviewing the data on program effectiveness, the chapter discusses the origins of the community control movement, how far it has progressed, and its expectations. Following a summary of the methods used in this study, the authors review evaluation studies on four major intermediate sanctions: intensive supervision, electronic monitoring and house arrest, drug testing, and boot camps or shock incarceration. Based on existing evidence, the authors draw conclusions on community control of offenders. They conclude that intermediate punishment programs have not shown the general ability to defeat the powerful forces that are fueling the correctional crisis. More correctional control in the community will mean that more offenders will be detected committing crimes and violating conditions of supervision. This will lead to a higher percentage of probation and parole violators being sent to prison as a sanction for their violations. Further, intermediate punishments are unlikely to deter criminal behavior more effectively than regular probation or prison placement. Intermediate punishments are apparently more effective if coupled with treatment interventions. Finally, without more evaluation research that uses randomized experimental designs, it will be difficult to reach more definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of intermediate sanctions.