WHEN POLICIES CONFLICT: CAN RETRIBUTIVE STATE POLICY GOALS BE MET EFFECTIVELY BY REHABILITATIVE ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING STRATEGIES

• NCJ Number: 141598
• Journal: Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1991) Pages: 121-132
• Author(s): C B Bondi
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Earlier draft of paper presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, 1990

Annotation

A State-level legislative policy concerning alternative sentencing strategies was evaluated in terms of rehabilitation versus retribution.

Abstract

During fiscal year 1986-1987, the State agency processed 1,202 community service orders involving 968 clients. Computer files of 200 clients were examined. Data analysis focused on how judges used the community service order. Findings supported the retributive policy goal of making probation a more punitive sanction; 63 percent of the client sample were sentenced to community service as a condition of probation. Data also indicated that clients sent to community service as a condition of probation had an 85 percent or better rate of completion. This outcome showed stronger support for the State's retributive policy than for the rehabilitative goal. Community service provided judges with a cost-effective alternative to incarceration and misdemeanor probation, and judges viewed community sentencing as a way to make probation a more meaningful sanction. 16 references, 3 tables, and 4 figures