NCJ Number
94606
Date Published
1983
Length
69 pages
Annotation
The report evaluates intensive supervision programs (ISP) as an alternative to incarceration or coupled with an early release program, providing overviews of six operating programs and recommendations for implementing an ISP.
Abstract
A review of basic issues in ISP addresses what constitutes intensive supervision, criteria for case selection, cost-effectiveness, and implementation and management concerns such as staff training, length of stay, case management, and additional services. The report surveys six selected ISPs; the ones in Georgia, New York, and Texas deal exclusively with probationers and hope to reduce prison crowding, while the three in New Jersey, Washington State, and Wisconsin remove offenders from prison and place them in ISP. Georgia's program is supported by fees paid by probationers, while the others are supported with State funds. Caseloads range from 25 to 40. In discussing evaluations of ISPs, the report concludes that increased supervision can reduce both the incidence and seriousness of criminal activities, may offer the community significantly more protection from high-risk offenders than probation or parole, and may reduce prison populations. Overall, the study found that interest in ISPs is increasing rapidly as States seek ways to divert and remove offenders from overcrowded prisons. Contact requirements of the programs surveyed varied between three per month and five per week, although ones with high requirements generally reduced them over time if offender adjustment was satisfactory. Recommendations cover developing an ISP that appeals to the community and policymakers, selection criteria, costs, and evaluations. The appendixes contain descriptions of the six ISP's discussed in the report, a list of resource persons, and 26 references.