NCJ Number
109655
Date Published
1987
Length
85 pages
Annotation
This study assessed the performance and goal achievement of Georgia's intensive probation supervision, its impacts on sentencing, and its potential for reducing the number of offenders imprisoned.
Abstract
The program, which was introduced in 1982 to divert high-risk, nonviolent offenders from overcrowded prisons, limits caseloads to 25 probationers supervised by 2 officers working staggered hours. One officer specializes in rehabilitative programming and court liaison, and the other specializes in surveillance. The evaluation analyzed program participants compared with prison release cohorts and a cohort of high-risk probationers matched on age, race, sex, type of offense, and risk and need scores. Subjects were tracked for 18 months to determine rearrests, reconvictions, and reincarcerations. An analysis of sentencing used baseline data established before the program began compared with sentencing patterns in the following 3 years. These data were analyzed by sentencing circuits and by offense categories to assess impacts in jurisdictions with the pilot program compared with other jurisdictions and statewide averages. Of the 2,322 offenders served through 1985, 84 percent were successfully maintained on probation. Although revocation rates (16 percent) were higher than for regular probationers, the rate of subsequent serious crime was lower than for either of the two cohorts. The State experienced a 10-percent reduction in the percentage of felons incarcerated over 3 years. The program demonstrated that high-risk offenders can be safely diverted from prison at a cost savings. 16 figures and 17 tables.