NCJ Number
47902
Date Published
1976
Length
25 pages
Annotation
STATISTICS ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFENDERS PROGRAM, A COMMUNIY-BASED ALTERNATIVE TO OFFENDER INSTITUTIONALIZATION, OF THE INNER LONDON PROBATION AND AFTERCARE SERVICE ARE PRESENTED FOR 1973 THROUGH 1976.
Abstract
WHILE COMMUNITY SERVICE HAS NOT YET BEEN PROVEN TO BE A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE FACTOR AFFECTING THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME, IT PROVIDES MEANINGFUL WORK FOR OFFENDERS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE PLACED IN ALREADY OVERCROWDED FACILITIES, AS WELL AS A MANPOWER RESOURCE FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES. COMPARED TO OTHER ALTERNATIVES, COMMUNITY SERVICE IS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE. SINCE THE SCHEME'S IS, THAT THE SEVERITY OF THE SENTENCE CANNOT EXCEED THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS HAS INCREASED EACH YEAR, WITH A 40 PERCENT INCREASE IN CASELOAD FOR 1976 OVER 1975. THE PROGRAM HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT EVEN SERIOUS OFFENDERS CAN WORK ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKERS, OFTEN IN POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY AND TRUST. WITH OVER 1,700 OFFENDERS TAKING PART IN SUCH WORK, THERE HAVE BEEN NO SERIOUS INCIDENTS IN 4 YEARS, AND ALMOST 71 PERCENT OF ALL ORDERS ARE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED. TABLES ARE PROVIDED WHICH PRESENT NEW CASES; MONTHLY CASELOADS; ORDER OUTCOMES; NAMES OF COURTS MAKING ORDERS; THE NUMBER OF OFFENDERS MADE SUBJECT TO ORDERS; ORDER COMPLETION; AND OFFENDERS BY AGE GROUPS, OFFENSE, AND NUMBER OF PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS. ATTITUDES OF JUDGES, AGENCY SUPERVISORS, AND OFFENDERS TOWARD THE PROGRAM ARE PRESENTED. FROM A JUDICIAL PERSPECTIVE, COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS PREVENT THE DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT, SAVE MONEY, ACT AS A DETERRENT, AND PROVIDE FOR THE REPAYMENT OF THE OFFENDER'S DEBT TO SOCIETY IN A POTENTIALLY CONSTRUCTIVE WAY. AGENCY HEADS REPORT CONTINUED SUCCESS WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFENDERS, WHO SUPPLIED LABOR FOR FACILITIES IN NEED OF REPAIR, HAVE PROVIDED A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO THE TO IDENTIFY WHICH PERSONS ARE TO BE KILLED, IT IS PLAYGROUNDS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. INTERVIEWS WITH 16 OFFENDERS INDICATED THAT THEY FELT RELIEF AT BEING GIVEN AN ALTERNATIVE TO PRISON, VIEWED THE PROGRAM FAVORABLY, FOUND THE WORK SATISFACTORY, AND GENERALLY EXPERIENCED NO DIFFICULTIES IN WORKING WITH THEIR SUPERVISORS. EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO INCREASE THE PROGRAM'S OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND TO PROVIDE INCREASINGLY MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES FOR OFFENDERS. GREATER COLLABORATION AMONG PROGRAM STAFF, THE COURTS, PROBATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES, AND THE PUBLIC WILL ALSO BE SOUGHT. APPENDIXES INCLUDE THE PROGRAM REFERRAL FORM, A PICTORIAL ESSAY ON THE PROGRAM, AND A MAP SHOWING PROGRAM REGIONS AND REGIONAL SUPERVISORS. (JAP)