NCJ Number
189467
Journal
Trends and Issues Update Volume: 1 Issue: 11 Dated: May 2000 Pages: 1-4
Date Published
May 2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The 1997 Illinois Adult Probation Outcome Study examined the characteristics of drug offenders on probation in Illinois and compared them to those of other types of offenders.
Abstract
Drug offenders included probationers convicted of a drug law offense; nondrug offenders included all other probationers except those convicted of driving under the influence. The variables examined included probationer characteristics, probation sentence characteristics, and case outcome measures. Results revealed that probationers convicted of drug law violations tended to have a number of unique characteristics when compared to other offenders, tended to be slightly younger minorities, to report lower levels of income and educational achievement, and to have more extensive drug abuse histories and less extensive criminal histories. Their sentences tended to be longer than those for nondrug offenders and to involve community service and urinalysis as a condition of probation. However, the two groups were similar in overall orders to treatment. Offenders convicted of a drug law offense were less likely than other offenders to be rearrested or to revive technical violations. Findings suggested the clear need for sentencing decisions to be based on information beyond the current charge. Findings also indicated that practitioners and policymakers need to understand better the reasons for the relatively low use of treatment orders as a condition of probation. Figures