NCJ Number
64812
Date Published
1978
Length
45 pages
Annotation
ONTARIO'S USE OF INTERMITTENT SENTENCES (IS) IN LIEU OF CONTINUOUS INCARCERATION WAS EXAMINED AND EVALUATED BY MEANS OF INTERVIEWS WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PERSONNEL AND A SURVEY OF 243 ONTARIO INMATES.
Abstract
THE INMATES SURVEYED WERE FROM 13 CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS SELECTED FOR THEIR REGULAR FREQUENCY OF IS ADMISSIONS AS WELL AS THEIR GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATIVENESS. THE INMATE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED USING STRUCTURED QUESTIONNAIRES. INFORMATION WAS COLLECTED ON IS INMATES' PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS, EMPLOYMENT, PROBATION ORDERS, MISCONDUCT, AND PERCEPTIONS OF IS'S ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES. DATA INDICATED THAT IS'S IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT GOALS ARE LARGELY NOT BEING REALIZED. INMATE SELECTION IS SUBOPTIMAL: ONE QUARTER OF THOSE ON IS WERE NEITHER EMPLOYED NOR GOING TO SCHOOL. ONE THIRD HAD OUTSTANDING CHARGES WHEN IS BEGAN. IN 28 PERCENT OF THE CASES, NO PROBATION ORDER ACCOMPANIED THE SENTENCE. MOREOVER, A LARGE PROPORTION (21.5 PERCENT) OF PROBATION ORDERS HAD NO ATTACHED CONDITIONS. INTERMITTENT CASES WHO WERE UNLAWFULLY AT LARGE POSED SERIOUS PROCEDURAL AND ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS. INTOXICATION ON ADMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION OF IS WERE TWO ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT IS IS A UNIQUE AND VIABLE CONCEPT BUT THAT CERTAIN PROBLEMS SHOULD BE SOLVED AND PROCEDURES IMPROVED. AMONG RECOMMENDED CHANGES WERE TO PROVIDE COURTS WITH COMPLETE INFORMATION ON THE ACCUSED'S CRIMINAL HISTORY, EMPLOYMENT, OR EDUCATIONAL STATUS, AND FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES; IMPOSING CONDITIONS ON PROBATION ORDERS TO FACILITATE BOTH MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS; PROMOTING ATTITUDINAL CHANGES IN INMATES; AND CLARIFYING AND MODIFYING COMMUNICATION AND PROCEDURES IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF SUCH SENTENCES. FIGURES, TABLES, AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)