PAST AND PRESENT FINDINGS IN INTENSIVE ADULT PROBATION

• NCJ Number: 43389
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 41 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 20-25
• Author(s): J BANKS; T R SILER; R L RARDIN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 6 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-N1-99-0045
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Georgia Institute of Technology
• Corporate Author: Administrative Office of the United States Courts
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE SUMMARIZES CASELOAD REDUCTION RESEARCH IN ADULT PROBATION PRIOR TO AND AFTER 1970. THE CENTRAL QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT A REDUCTION OF CASELOADS REDUCES RECIDIVISM.

Abstract

THE CASELOAD REDUCTION RESEARCH REVIEWED INDICATES THAT CASELOAD REDUCTION ALONE DOES NOT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE RECIDIVISM IN ADULT PROBATIONERS. PROBATION PROJECTS IN THIS INVESTIGATION WHICH PERMITTED UNUSUALLY LOW CASELOADS WERE CALLED INTENSIVE. IF A PROJECT OFFERED A UNIQUE SERVICE, IT WAS CLASSIFIED AS SPECIAL. INTENSIVE AND/OR SPECIAL PROJECTS WERE CONSIDERED IN THE RESEARCH; ALL PROJECTS DEALT WITH ADULT OFFENDERS. STUDIES AND FIELD EXPERIENCE WITH INTENSIVE SPECIAL PROBATION SUGGEST THAT THE OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF 'INTENSIVE' PROBATION SHOULD REFLECT CONTACT CHARACTER, NOT CASELOAD. RECENT FIELD EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT EMPHASIS SHOULD BE DIRECTED AWAY FROM CASELOAD MEASUREMENT AS A MEASURE OF INCREASED CONTACT IN THE PROBATION RELATIONSHIP. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES THAT MORE DEFINITIVE MEASURES OF THE QUALITY OF CONTACT AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE QUANTITY OF CONTACT MUST BE DEVELOPED. QUESTIONS REMAINING ARE: DO INCREASES IN THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF CONTACT BETWEEN PROBATIONER AND STAFF RESULT IN MORE EFFECTIVE TREATMENT WHICH PRODUCES THE DESIRED CLIENT CHANGE? WHAT SPECIFIC CONDITIONS MUST EXIST FOR CONTACT TO RESULT IN REDUCED RECIDIVISM? CAN PROBATION CONTACT BE SUFFICIENTLY INTENSIVE?