NCJ Number
151329
Date Published
1994
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This study determined the extent to which Colorado's Intensive Supervision Probation (ISP) program diverted offenders from prison while protecting the public.
Abstract
Further, treatment and surveillance components of ISP were examined to ascertain what programming seemed particularly relevant to successful program completion by ISP clients. To analyze these issues, ISP offenders were compared to probationers, community corrections clients, and inmates. ISP emphasizes close monitoring and clearly defined treatment plans for offenders. ISP offenders and inmates were found to have similar backgrounds in terms of their juvenile arrest and incarceration records. The groups were also similar in the number of past violent adult arrests. ISP thus apparently diverts certain offenders from prison, i.e., those with lengthy juvenile records and arrests for violent adult crimes. Measures of ISP's effectiveness in achieving public safety were unsuccessful termination from the program and for those offenders who completed ISP, whether or not they had been rearrested 12 months after leaving the program. This study found that offenders in ISP were nearly six times more likely to terminate from the program due to technical violations than to a new offense. Several program components apparently contribute to an offender's successful program completion: participation in employment, counseling, and Alcoholics Anonymous. These factors overshadowed surveillance measures such as electronic monitoring and probation-officer contacts in influencing successful program completion. The cost of ISP was $6.07 per day compared to $33.33 for community corrections, $2.35 for probation, and $52.68 for prison. The report recommends that ISP officers develop case-management plans that prioritize the ability of an offender to complete the ISP program. 10 tables and an 11-item bibliography