NCJ Number
66973
Journal
Prosecutor Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1980) Pages: 216-219
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER EXPLORES THE FEASIBILITY OF HOME DETENTION AS ONE POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION. IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT COMPARATIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS, RESEARCH FINDINGS, BENEFITS, AND OTHER FACTORS.
Abstract
A PROGRAM OF HOME DETENTION SEEKS TO IMPOSE UPON A MINOR OFFENDER (MISDEMEANANTS OR STATUS OFFENDERS) A SIGNIGICANT DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY BY RESTRICTING THE OFFENDER TO HIS OR HER HOME. IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT, A RELATIVE'S HOME MAY BE SELECTED. THE OFFENDER WILL BE PERMITTED TO LEAVE THE PLACE OF CONFINEMENT ONLY TO WORK OR TO ATTEND SCHOOL. BY RESTRICTING THE OFFENDER'S MOBILITY AND ACTIVITIES, THE HOME DETENTION PROGRAM PRESERVES THE DETERRENT EFFECTS OF INCARCERATION BUT MINIMIZES THE SOCIAL COST OF RESTRICTING THE INDIVIDUAL'S LIBERTY. ALTHOUGH HOME DETENTION APPEARS TO BE AN UNEXPLORED ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO INCARCERATION FOR ADULTS, IT HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL, IF UNRECOGNIZED, PART OF JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS. (THREE SUCH PROGRAMS, LOCATED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.; KENNEWICK, WASH.,; AND ST. JOSEPH, MO.; ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED.) HOME DETENTION PROGRAMS OFFER NUMEROUS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS. THIS APPROACH MINIMIZES THE ECONOMIC LOSS OF INCARCERATION AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL COSTS OF INCARCERATION. IT REDUCES OVERCROWDING IN INSTITUTIONS AND MAINTAINS THE INDIVIDUAL'S MAJOR STABILIZING INFLUENCES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. ALSO REDUCED FACILITY CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND TYPICAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH INCARCERATION, SUCH AS FOOD AND CLOTHING. HOWEVER, THE HOME INCARCERATION PROGRAM IS LIKELY TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TYPICAL SUPERVISED PROBATION, SINCE AN INTENSIFIED LEVEL OF SUPERVISION IS REQUIRED. POSSIBLE PROBLEMS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED, SUCH AS THE FACT THAT OFFENDERS MAY BE RELEASED FROM THE PROGRAM FACING CONTINUING PROBLEMS OF INADEQUATE EDUCATION AND LACK OF MARKETABLE SKILLS; INDIGENT OFFENDERS MAY BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, SINCE A STABLE HOME ENVIRONMENT IS NEEDED FOR PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY; AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM MAY PROVE TOO TIME CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE. A DIAGRAM AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--PRG)