NCJ Number
128801
Journal
Evaluation Review Volume: 13 Issue: 5 Dated: (October 1989) Pages: 435-458
Date Published
1989
Length
24 pages
Annotation
The Intensive Supervision Demonstration Project funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is designed to assess the effects and costs of diverting nonviolent prison-bound felons to community-based programs. It randomly assigns felons to intensive supervision programs (ISPs) or to control programs.
Abstract
ISPs are a way for States to relieve their prison overcrowding problems without jeopardizing public safety. Eleven jurisdictions across the country were chosen: Contra Costa, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Ventura, CA; Marion County, OR; Milwaukee, WI; Georgia; Des Moines, IA; Albuquerque, NM; Seattle, WA; Houston and Dallas, TX; and Front Royal, VA. Each site was funded for 18 to 24 months; $100,000 to $150,000 per site. The demonstration project seeks to determine if ISPs do in fact reduce the likelihood of releasees' recidivism, and if it is more cost-effective than other sanctions. It began accepting clients in January 1986; some sites will continue accepting cases until January 1990. By the time of its completion, ISP will have served several thousand offenders. The most important lesson learned has been that close cooperation between operational agencies and researchers is essential for inter- and intra-agency support, and for warding off legal and ethical challenges to the random assignment process. 15 notes and 26 references (Author abstract modified)