NCJ Number
174629
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 61 Issue: 4 Dated: December 1997 Pages: 65-75
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This is an overview of Intensive Supervision Programs (ISP), their effectiveness, suggested modifications, and policy implications.
Abstract
Commonly stated goals of ISPs are: increased public safety; rehabilitation of the offender; provision of an intermediate punishment; reduction in prison crowding; and reduction in costs. The article briefly describes three models of ISP; reports on the major evaluative research findings, including preliminary results from an evaluation of the American Probation and Parole Association's prototypical model; and explores the policy implications of ISP research. Evaluations have disclosed that ISPs: (1) have failed to alleviate prison crowding; (2) have made no difference in recidivism rates compared to offenders in comparison groups; (3) appear to be more effective than other programs or prison in meeting offender needs; (4) do provide an intermediate punishment; and (5) although less expensive than prison, are more expensive than originally thought. Notes, references