NCJ Number
174951
Journal
Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: 1997 Pages: 383-403
Date Published
1997
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Data from official records in North Carolina were used to examine differences in recidivism among 331 probationers who experienced electronic house arrest and 309 participants in shock incarceration programs.
Abstract
The participants were ages 16-25 at the time of sentencing and were matched as closely as possible on race, current offense, number of prior arrests, and total score on the client assessment form. The house arrest group was tracked for an average of 36.9 months from the time of placement in the program; the boot camp group was tracked for an average of 39.2 months after release from the program. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of recidivism, which was defined as fingerprinted rearrest. Participation in the boot camp program, as opposed to electronic house arrest, was consistently associated with avoiding rearrest. In addition, African American race was associated with being rearrested for several categories of offense. Findings indicated that although technological advances may be of significant assistance to correctional practitioners, such advances alone are not the single solution that will ensure future compliance with the law. Tables, notes, and 45 references (Author abstract modified)