NCJ Number
55774
Journal
State Government Volume: 50 Issue: 1 Dated: (WINTER 1977) Pages: 2-6
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
'SHOCK TREATMENT' ALLOWS THE RELEASE OF CONVICTED FELONS AFTER EITHER 130 DAYS OR 6 MONTHS IN PRISON, JUST AFTER THEY HAVE HAD THE 'SHOCK' OF INCARCERATION. FAILURE RATES AND ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE PLAN ARE GIVEN.
Abstract
SINCE SHOCK PROBATION, WHICH ALLOWS JUDGES TO ORDER THE RELEASE OF FELONS AFTER 130 DAYS OF THEIR TERM HAS BEEN SERVED, WAS INSTITUTED IN 1964, THE FAILURE RATE HAS BEEN ABOUT 15 PERCENT. ABOUT 7,000 CONVICTED FELONS HAVE BEEN SET FREE EARLY UNDER THIS PROGRAM. THE SHOCK PAROLE LAW TOOK EFFECT IN 1974. IT HAS RESULTED IN THE RELEASE OF 1,550 PRISONERS WITH 180 BEING RETURNED TO PRISON FOR FURTHER CRIMES OR VIOLATIONS OF PAROLE. THE ARGUMENT FOR THE PLAN CITES THE COSTS SAVINGS OF PRISON SPACE AND ARGUES THAT IT IS FOOLISH TO INCARCERATE A PERSON FOR 2 YEARS AT A COST OF $5,000 PER YEAR FOR A PROPERTY OFFENSE COSTING $1,000 OR LESS. YET, 50 PERCENT OF OHIO'S PRISONERS FALL INTO THIS OFFENSE CATEGORY. IT IS ARGUED THAT THE SHOCK OF IMPRISONMENT IS ENOUGH OF A DETERRENT. ALSO, EARLY RELEASE PREVENTS A FELON FROM BEING HARDENED BY THE PRISON SYSTEM. THE ARGUMENT AGAINST CITES CASES OF DRUG DEALERS RELEASED AFTER SERVING ONLY A FEW MONTHS AND IMMEDIATELY REENTERING THE DRUG BUSINESS. A MURDER COMMITED BY A FELON RELEASED ON SHOCK PAROLE IS ALSO GIVEN AS AN EXAMPLE OF MISUSE OF THE SYSTEM. IT IS CHARGED THAT OVERUSE OF SHOCK PROBATION AND PAROLE HAS LED TO THE RELEASE OF THOSE WHO ARE STILL DANGEROUS TO SOCIETY. (GLR)