NCJ Number
202846
Date Published
August 1999
Length
92 pages
Annotation
This study examined the characteristics of offenders committed to probation in Michigan and the type and extent of recidivism among this population.
Abstract
As prison overcrowding continues to plague the American criminal justice and correctional systems, more and more offenders are being sentenced to probation as an alternative to incarceration. Despite its increasing use, little is known about recidivism rates among offenders sentenced to probation. This is due, in part, to differences in how researchers define recidivism. After presenting an overview of the trends and issues surrounding probation, the authors outline their research design and data collection methods. A total of 1,700 offenders who were sentenced to probation in Michigan during February and March of 1996 were included in the study. Data included demographic and criminal history information, substance abuse and employment information, and information about conditions of probation. Results of logistic regression analyses reveal that 24 percent of probationers had no violation at the 30-month follow-up period, while 76 percent had between 1 and 8 violations. Findings are discussed in light of improvements that the Department of Corrections can make to reduce violations among probationers. Limitations of the study include the fact that only official data sources were utilized, which resulted in a tracking of only officially recorded violations. Future research may incorporate face-to-face probationer interviews to capture violations that are not officially reported. Tables, figures, references, appendix