NCJ Number
153618
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1994) Pages: 51-58
Date Published
1994
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the methodology and findings of research into the characteristics of offenders assigned to an intensive supervision probation (ISP) program.
Abstract
Subjects for the study were the 171 cases appearing on a probation supervisor's list of persons referred for consideration to the ISP Assignment Committee in a Colorado judicial district. Cases were from 1989 (n=44), 1990 (n=59), and 1991 (n=48). Subjects were 143 males and 24 females with educational backgrounds that varied from completing third grade to obtaining a graduate degree. The presentence investigation reports were the primary information source, but items were also obtained from other file sources. Probably the most remarkable findings in this study is the absence of any significant relationship between the ISP Assignment Committee's recommendation in favor or against ISP assignment and any of the independent variable other than the year in which the committee heard the case. Such independence is laudable for variables such as gender, age, ethnicity, and education; however, the independence found with variables that are supposed to identify a target population for the ISP program (e.g., the offender's criminal history, risk, and need scores) suggests this particular program may not be one of prison- diversion as the State guidelines proclaim. The finding that no difference exists between the offenders recommended for ISP and those not recommended re-emphasizes Burkhart's (1986) concern that program evaluations must first deal with issues of offender classification and assignment. 1 table and 12 references