Interest of the State in the Effectiveness of Alternatives to Imprisonment (From Alternatives to Custodial Sanctions, P 230-242, 1988 -- See NCJ-114520)

• NCJ Number: 114526
• Author(s): W Schadler
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Government Printing Ctre
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: Finland
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

This paper examines the cost-effectiveness of Hesse's penal policies in West Germany to determine if noncustodial sanctions are cheaper than custodial sanctions and whether they have comparable effects on special prevention and deterrence.

Abstract

In 1981, Hesse introduced community work projects, including the use of social workers to help probationers avoid revocations and the development of socially educative work groups for driving under the influence offenders. These and other initiatives tackle problem areas in German criminal procedure, emphasize social work, and provide information on noncustodial sanctions to courts and offenders. Evaluations of these projects indicate that probation, although the most expensive of the alternatives available, is five times cheaper than imprisonment. In those areas where they have been applied, alternatives also have had a much greater effect on specific prevention than have custodial sentences; and the policy of applying less severe sanctions has not involved a loss of general deterrence. Only noncustodial sanctions make it possible for offenders to receive adequate information about the sentence and counseling and to have an active role in the performance of the sentence.