Perceptions and Attitudes of Judges and Attorneys Toward Intensive Probation Supervision

• NCJ Number: 105791
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 51 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1987) Pages: 16-24
• Author(s): A J Lurigio
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Self-report questionnaires examining attitudes toward intensive probation supervision (IPS) were administered to presiding judges (26, 56-percent return), State's attorneys (27, 59-percent return), public defenders (38, 83-percent return), and private attorneys (53, 53-percent return) assigned to 46 criminal and pretrial felony circuit courts in Cook County, Ill.

Abstract

While all groups exhibited a high awareness of the IPS program, there were major differences in their attitudes toward and use of IPS Public defenders were the most inclined to recommend offenders for screening, make favorable judgments about IPS and its effectiveness, and pledge their support for continuation and expansion of the program. Similarly, private attorneys were very receptive and favorable toward the program. In contrast, State's attorneys were reluctant to accept IPS as a viable option to prison, and their judgments about the program were uniformly negative. While judges rated IPS highly on all measures, only 10 percent used it with high degree of frequency. 12 references and 5 tables.