EFFECTIVENESS OF PROBATION CASELOAD SIZES - A REVIEW OF THE EMPIRICAL LITERATURE

• NCJ Number: 15835
• Journal: Criminology Dated: (FEBRUARY 1971) Pages: 333-343
• Author(s): H J VETTER; R ADAMS
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-100
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CRITICISM OF THE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN OF STUDIES MADE FROM 1965 THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF 1969 AS BEING INADEQUATE TO DEMONSTRATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS VARIABLE.

Abstract

CASELOAD SIZE CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE OF CONCERN FOR CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITIES AND A VARIABLE WHICH COMMANDS THE ATTENTION OF CRIMINOLOGISTS. YET CASELOAD SIZE HAS RARELY APPEARED IN THE PROFESSIONAL LITERATURE AS AN EMPIRICALLY ASSESSED, ISOLATED, OPERATIONALLY DEFINED CONSTRUCT. NOR HAS THERE BEEN AN ADEQUATE ASSESSMENT OF THE INFLUENCE OF GRADUATED AMOUNTS OF THIS VARIABLE ON THE RANGE OF OFFENDER TYPES. THOSE FEW STUDIES APPROACHING METHODOLOGICAL ADEQUACY IN WHICH CASELOAD SIZE HAS BEEN EMPLOYED AS AN INDEPENDENT VARIABLE HAVE PRODUCED RESULTS WHICH ARE COMPOUNDED BY THE INFLUENCE OF OTHER VARIABLES. ACTUALLY, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS OPERATING WHEN WE PROVIDE CORRECTIONAL TREATMENT IN VARYING DEGREES OF INTENSITY. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER VARYING THE CASELOAD SIZE LEADS TO CORRESPONDING VARIATION IN INTENSITY. WE DO NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF SUCH MANIPULATIONS ON ANY NUMBER OF POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT TARGET VARIABLES. THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS UNDERLIES THE NECESSITY FOR RESEARCH TO BE ANCHORED IN THEORY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)