NCJ Number
192055
Date Published
July 2001
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This report discusses the results of the first 6 months of a community service program used for probationers in England.
Abstract
Implementation of the first 6 Community Service Pathfinder projects took place in 10 probation areas in March and April 2000. The programs aimed to encourage socially responsible attitudes and behavior, develop and provide awards for employable skills, and use community service to address the problems contributing to the offending. The projects had recruited 1,250 offenders by the end of September 2000. Three-fourths were on community punishment orders and one-fourth were on combined orders. The offenders averaged 27 years of age. Ninety-one percent were male; 89 percent were white. Their risk profile was low-medium. Their housing and employment situations were relatively settled. Project staff believed that they had limited influence over how offenders came to be sentenced to community punishment of combined orders. Staff assessed those completing community service to be a stable and settled group who were well motivated to complete their hours and enjoyed high levels of close personal support in doing so. Staff also reported that these offenders achieved high levels of compliance and performance. Those who had completed their hours displayed significant reductions in pro-criminal attitudes and perceived problems. Staff rated two-thirds of these as having undergone positive change and as having good prospects for future change. Figures