NCJ Number
183581
Journal
Justice Research and Policy Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2000 Pages: 73-86
Date Published
2000
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examines factors associated with probation outcome.
Abstract
The study examined probation outcomes in a sample of more than 2,400 discharged adult probationers (both felony and misdemeanor probationers) in Illinois. It grouped predictor variables into probationer characteristics, offense type and sentence characteristics, and studied three different probation outcomes: rearrest, technical violations, and revocations. Logistic regression analyses showed that different predictors were related to different outcomes and replicated many of the results of previous research. Age, income, prior adult convictions, histories of drug abuse and dependence and supervision setting were significant predictors of all three outcomes. Race, education, conviction offense, offense class, and sentence length predicted some of the outcomes, but not all three. Race continued to be a troubling predictor of probationer rearrests and technical violations. Even when other variables were controlled, minority probationers were still more likely to be arrested and cited for technical violations. This may be the result of differential police practices that target impoverished, inner-city, minority neighborhoods, increasing the risk of arrest and apprehension for failure-to-report warrants for persons of color. Tables, references