NCJ Number
129997
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (1991) Pages: 49-66
Date Published
1991
Length
18 pages
Annotation
An evaluative study of the Kansas Community Corrections Act (CCA), passed in 1980, examines the rate of recidivism among clients. Despite an explicit statement of goals, the legislation seeks to reduce commitments to State prisons and reduce prison overcrowding, reduce the costs of corrections, and offer an intermediate disposition between probation and imprisonment for felons.
Abstract
Despite concern over a negative review of the public safety features of a similar law enacted in Minnesota, the public safety aspect of the Kansas CCA is viewed mostly as a constraint on how the above goals are pursued. The findings indicate that the level of recidivism among community corrections defendants has been no different from what might have been expected, given their individual risk characteristics including offense seriousness, age, and prior offenses. The author maintains that the case for community corrections alternatives is strong when corrections authorities choose to adopt cost effective and safe sentencing strategies that are at least as effective as imprisonment. 5 tables, 6 figures, 28 notes, 2 appendixes, and 24 references (Author abstract modified)