NCJ Number
112514
Date Published
1988
Length
374 pages
Annotation
This text examines both legislated and experimental sanction systems in the seven member States of the Council of Europe, with a focus on criminal policy and efforts to reduce short-term imprisonment.
Abstract
Countries include Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. For each of these, principle penalties are described, together with available alternatives to custodial sanctions. Alternatives examined include parole, conditional release, suspended sentence, judicial pardon, fines, and probation. Other programs designed to reduce the length of time served are described, including good time allowances, semi-liberty, night and weekend imprisonment, and sentence reduction through work. Particular attention is given to community service programs already in place or proposed for implementation. Both legal and practical aspects of community service programs are examined. These include statutory frameworks, reporting, decisionmaking procedures, eligibility criteria, financing, supervision, conditions, penalties for noncompliance, liability issues, and the relationship between community service and other sanctions. Additional issues in the actual practice of community service are discussed including program costs, public attitudes and social acceptance, the role of the media, measures for program implementation, outcome evaluation, and whether community service is a true alternative to incarceration. Chapter footnotes.