ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT (FROM CRIME AND JUSTICE IN AUSTRALIA, 1977, BY DAVID BILES - SEE NCJ-50969)

• NCJ Number: 50975
• Author(s): I POTAS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 32 pages
• Corporate Author: Australian Institute of Criminology; Sun Books Pty Ltd
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

NONCUSTODIAL AND SEMICUSTODIAL MEASURES AVAILABLE TO THE AUSTRALIAN COURTS AND CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITIES FOR THE TREATMENT OF CONVICTED OFFENDERS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE MEASURES INCLUDE FINES, CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE, BONDS, SUPERVISED PROBATION, SUSPENDED AND DEFERRED SENTENCES, PERIODIC DETENTION, ATTENDANCE CENTERS, WORK ORDERS, WORK RELEASE, AND PAROLE. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FINES, BONDS, AND PROBATION, MANY OF THE SENTENCING OPTIONS ARE DEVELOPMENTS OF THE 1960'S AND 1970'S. THE NEW MEASURES PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AND REFLECT DISENCHANTMENT WITH IMPRISONMENT ON A NUMBER OF GROUNDS, INCLUDING THE QUESTIONABLE UTILITY OF IMPRISONMENT AS A MECHANISM FOR REHABILITATING OFFENDERS. THE TASK FACED BY MAGISTRATES AND JUDGES IN CHOOSING AN APPROPRIATE SENTENCE IS DISCUSSED, AND THE GENERAL AIMS OF NONCUSTODIAL AND SEMICUSTODIAL MEASURES ARE CONSIDERED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT NOT ALL SENTENCING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN EVERY AUSTRALIAN JURISDICTION. EACH NONCUSTODIAL AND SEMICUSTODIAL OPTION IS DISCUSSED INDIVIDUALLY, WITH REFERENCE TO ITS METHOD OF OPERATION, PARTICIPANT POPULATION, AND EXTENT OF USE. IT IS PREDICTED THAT GREATER USE WILL BE MADE OF NONCUSTODIAL MEASURES SUCH AS TASMANIA'S WORK ORDER PROGRAM AND VICTORIA'S ATTENDANCE CENTER PROGRAM. AN EXPANSION OF WORK RELEASE OPTIONS FOR INMATES IS ALSO LIKELY. SUCH FORECASTS ARE BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT GOVERNMENT WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY CONCERNED WITH THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF CORRECTIONAL MEASURES. IF RECIDIVISM RATES INDICATE LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS PENAL MEASURES, POLICYMAKERS WILL TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO COSTS. IT COSTS $104 PER DAY TO KEEP A PRISONER IN MAXIMUM SECURITY IN NEW SOUTH WALES, WHEREAS IT COSTS $3.28 TO SUPERVISE AN OFFENDER UNDER PERIODIC DETENTION (WEEKEND CONFINEMENT). SEMICUSTODIAL AND MORE INTENSIVE NONCUSTODIAL MEASURES MAY BE EXPECTED TO COST MORE THAN PROBATION OR PAROLE, BUT THEY NEVERTHELESS WILL BE MUCH LESS INCREASINGLY POPULAR. FIVE TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)