Intermediate Sanctions

Intermediate Sanctions Emergence in 1980s/Goals Programs Boot Camps

Emergence of Intermediate Sanctions • Context of 1970s and 1980s • Pragmatic concerns • Conceptual/Sentencing concerns • Filler for gap between probation/incarceration • Probation not “tough” enough • RAND report on felony probation

Goals of IMS • Sold differently to conservatives and liberals • Liberals • Keep some folks out of prison (diversion) • Better match crime/sentence (justice model) • Conservatives • Save money (diversion) • Get tougher on probationers (reduce recidivism)

Corrections Continuum • Fines, Restitution, Community Service • Probation • House arrest- with or w/o EM • Intensive Supervision Probation/Parole • Halfway houses  RCCFs • Day Reporting Centers • Restitution Centers • Boot Camps

Monetary/Service Sanctions

Restitution • Historically very old, resurgence first with victim’s rights movement, then RJ • Restricted to compensation as direct result of crime • Physical injuries, $ loss, counseling, HIV testing… • Used on up to 30% of probationers • Victims typically apply through prosecutor • Restitution centers • Indigent? • Effectiveness

Community Service • Community service order • Rarely used as “stand alone” (condition of probation) • Only 6% of felony sentences as “add-on” • Not used widely in U.S. until late 1960s • Rebirth under restorative justice • For harms that cannot be repaired through restitution • No effect on recidivism (not studied much) • Diversion?

Fines/Day Fines • Never caught on in U.S. for street crime • Why? Where are fines used in U.S.? • Contrast with Europe • In Germany, 81% of adult criminal cases result in fine as only punishment • Upsides of Fines? • Flexible, add-on easily, could divert ($, social ties) • Downside?

Home Confinement • House arrest/home confinement as another “old” punishment • Re-invented in the 1980s • Sexier with electronic monitoring • Passive vs. Active phone line; Remote location monitor • GPS technology  “drive by” • Key issue = who responds and how • Effective? • Fair?

RCCF • Half-way house one of the earliest forms of corrections History • Modern Forms: Residential Community Corrections Facility • Traditional Halfway house + Expanded services • More public, larger, state level facilities • Day reporting centers • Restitution Centers

Correctional Boot Camps • Emergence in the early 1980s • Recycling of many old ideas (labor/discipline) • Goals • Reduce prison crowding (save money) • Reduce recidivism • Provide additional sentencing option • Nature of boot camps • Short, military style, physical labor/drill • Young, lower risk offenders • Deterrence based, though some have treatment

Boot Camp Article • Meta-analysis of Boot Camps • Literally a study of studies • Compute effect size for every boot camp evaluation study • Effect size = how much effect did it have • Their measure of effect size = odds ratio CONTROL GROUP RECIDIVISM ---------------------------------- = ODDS RATIO BOOT CAMP RECIDISM 1 = no effect, less than one is bad effect, greater than one is good (reduce crime) effect

Boot Camp Findings • Average odds ratio across all of the studies was roughly 1 • The average does hide some meaningful variation • 27 studies found no differences • 8 comparisons favored control group, 9 favored the boot campers • Key question? • Factors that might explain variation in effectiveness

Intermediate Sanctions