NCJ Number
37830
Journal
Criminal Justice Review Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (FALL 1976) Pages: 61
Date Published
1976
Length
11 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF AN ASSESSMENT OF A FLORIDA PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDED INTENSIVE PAROLE SUPERVISION TO HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS TO SEE IF THIS TYPE OF SUPERVISION WOULD PRODUCE MORE ADEQUATE ADJUSTMENT AND LOWER RECIDIVISM.
Abstract
IN AN ATTEMPT TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PROGRAM OF INTENSIVE SUPERVISION FOR THE DIFFICULT HIGH RISK INDIVIDUAL WHO, HERETOFORE, WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED FOR PROBATION OR PAROLE, AN EXPERIMENTAL INTENSIVE SUPERVISION PROJECT (ISP) WAS CONDUCTED BY THE RESEARCH, STATISTICS AND PLANNING SECTION OF THE FLORIDA PAROLE AND PROBATION COMMISSION FOR ONE YEAR BETWEEN NOVEMBER 19, 1971, AND NOVEMBER 18, 1972. THIS STUDY EXAMINED THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN INTENSIFIED SUPERVISION EFFORT WITH REDUCED CASELOADS FOR PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS. THE GENERAL HYPOTHESIS WAS THAT PROBATIONERS AND PAROLEES EXPOSED TO INTENSIVE SUPERVISION (I.E., A SMALLER CASELOAD AND A CONCOMITANT INCREASE IN ACCESS TO TREATMENT PROGRAMS) WOULD MAKE A MORE ADEQUATE ADJUSTMENT AND HAVE LOWER RECIDIVISM RATES THAN COMPARABLE GROUPS NOT RECEIVING INTENSIVE SUPERVISION. THIS STUDY COMPARED THE BEHAVIORS OF INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN INTENSIVE SUPERVISION TO A MATCHED CONTROL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING REGULAR SUPERVISION. THE RESULTS INDICATED SUCCESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE VARIATIONS IN SUPERVISION INTENSITY; THAT IS, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS DID RECEIVE MORE SUPERVISOR CONTACTS. HOWEVER, THE PRODUCT MEASURES INVOLVING OFFENDER BEHAVIORAL ADJUSTMENT DID NOT SHOW CLEAR ADVANTAGES FOR EITHER LEVEL OF SUPERVISION INTENSITY. THE AUTHORS STATE THAT INTERPRETATIONS OF THE RESULTS DEPEND HEAVILY UPON AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE COMPLEX INTERACTION OF THE BEHAVORIAL CAUSES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)