NCJ Number
101782
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 50 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1986) Pages: 55-64
Date Published
1986
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study found that participants in New Zealand's offender community service program have benefited from and are generally satisfied with the program.
Abstract
Data were collected from March through May 1983 via structured interviews with 42 probation officers, 65 sponsors, 68 offenders, and 11 judges from 7 of the 35 New Zealand probation districts. A 1981 law authorizes offenders to be sentenced to perform from 8 to 200 hours of unpaid service to a charitable or governmental organization. Interviews focused on the purpose of the sentence, ways in which the sentence has been implemented, benefits from the sentence, and the extent of satisfaction with the sentence. Overall, responses indicate that community service is a feasible and beneficial sentencing option. Inconsistent administration, however, has resulted from lack of a consensus on the sentence's purpose and its relationship to other sentences. A number of implementation issues also must be resolved, including the offender's role in selecting a community service sponsor, the role of the judge and probation officer in determining a specific placement, the development of working relationships between probation officers and community service sponsors, and the need for a backup sanction. 17 references.