Getting Tough or Being Effective: What Matters? (From What Matters in Probation, P 146-169, 2004, George Mair, ed. -- See NCJ-205370)

• NCJ Number: 205376
• Author(s): Carol Hedderman; Mike Hough
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 24 pages
• Sale Source: Willan Publishing
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter examines some of the tensions in current What Works policy about maintaining offenders’ compliance with conditions specified as part of probation supervision.

Abstract

In this chapter, it is argued that a shift of emphasis in enforcement policy would increase the use of community penalties, help probation staff engage with offenders, and make it clearer to offenders what is expected of them. In addition, it is argued that a more coherent enforcement strategy would increase the chances of supervision working and would thus strengthen the What Works initiative. The chapter begins with a history of probation since the 1970's, focusing on enforcement. It describes the policy context in which National Standards for supervision were introduced and the way legislation sought to re-badge probation and community service. The chapter then summarizes the results of three audits which were conducted by one of the authors demonstrating how enforcement standards become more rigorous through the use of successive National Standards. The chapter continues by drawing on empirical studies shedding light on the degree to which these changes could affect the effectiveness of probation work with offenders. Results of a reconviction study are presented which exploits the natural variation in enforcement regimes between probation areas testing whether offenders respond to the differences. In addition, completion and reconviction rates of offenders on drug treatment and testing orders were examined. Lastly, a new framework for thinking about how the government’s enforcement strategies might be revised is laid out with the intent of balancing the competing aims of maximizing justice, reducing offending, and enhancing sentences and public confidence in community sentences. In summary, the chapter offered no grounds for thinking that the deterrent effect of enforcement ensures fuller compliance and some grounds for thinking that tough enforcement can lead to low retention rates in programs leading to high reconviction rates. References