PROBATION, PAROLE, AND CORRECTIONAL (PROGRAMS - A REVIEW OF THEIR EVALUATION (FROM HOW WELL DOES IT WORK? - REVIEW OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION, 1978 - SEE NCJ-64112)

• NCJ Number: 64114
• Author(s): L A BENNETT
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 43 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FOLLOWING AN OUTLINE OF MAJOR POLICY ISUES IN PROBATION, PAROLE, AND CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS AND THEIR EVALUATION, THIS REVIEW SELECTS THOSE PROGRAMS WITH SUGGESTIVE FINDINGS TO DRAW A PICTURE OF THE STATE OF THE ART.

Abstract

SOME OF THE MAJOR SOCIAL POLICY ISSUES IN PROBATION, PAROLE, AND CORRECTIONS, AS WELL AS SOME UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS, TEND TO REMAIN LARGELY IMPLICIT IN MOST EVALUATION STUDIES. THESE INCLUDE THE VALIDITY OF PAROLE IN VIEW OF ITS DUAL CONNOTATIONS FOR DETERMINATE AND INDETERMINATE SENTENCING AND PUNISHMENT VERSUS TREATMENT THEORY; THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE EXISTENCE OF PAROLE; AND THE BENEFIT OF PROBATION AS A MECHANISM THAT ALLOWS DECISIONMAKERS AN OPTION TO MAKE CERTAIN KINDS OF RULINGS THAT MAY BE VIEWED AS SOCIALLY BENEFICIAL. HOWEVER, IF PAROLE AND PROBATION CAN BE ASSUMED TO PROVIDE AID IN OF THE TRANSITION FROM PRISON LIFE TO THE RELATIVE FREEDOM OF OUTSIDE SOCIETY, THEN CONCERN CAN PROCEED TO EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PAROLE AND PROBATION PROGRAMS. ISSUES OF DELIVERY AND ADMINISTRATION, DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION, PUNISHMENT, CONTROL, AND REINTEGRATION HAVE BEEN EXAMINED IN NUMEROUS STUDIES ACROSS THE NATION. THE RESULT IS A WEALTH OF EVIDENCE THAT A FAIR PROPORTION OF INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS DO NOT REQUIRE THE CONTROLS PRESENTLY IMPOSED AND THUS THE CORRECTIONAL APPARATUS CAN BE MODIFIED. SEVERAL PROJECTS COVERED IN THE REVIEW APPEAR VALUABLE. THESE INCLUDE SPECIFIC TREATMENT APPROACHES SUCH AS BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAMS USING TOKEN REWARD SYSTEM AND TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS BASED ON A SYSTEM OF SELF-ADJUSTMENT DEVELOPMENT; THE MORE TRADITIONAL VOLUNTARY PSYCHOTHERAPY; AND THE ASKLEPIEION COMMUNITY, A CONFRONTIVE TYPE OF GROUP INTERACTION. OTHER PROGRAMS AND PROGRAM FEATURES SHOW POSITIVE EVALUATION RESULTS ARE STABLE FAMILY SUPPORT FOSTERED THROUGH FAMILY VISITING AND COUNSELING AND MAINTENANCE OF OUTSIDE CONTACTS, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION, AND INMATE PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMMING, WORK FURLOUGH PROGRAMS, TRANSITION PROGRAMS, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT. COMMENTS ARE MADE ON THE AVAILABLE EVALUATION EVIDENCE FOR ALL THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS AND ON THE ESSENCE OF THE EVALUATIONS THEMSELVES. POLICY CONSIDERATIONS ARE DRAWN. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (DAG)