NCJ Number
12323
Date Published
1973
Length
73 pages
Annotation
SHOCK PROBATION INVOLVES THE USE OF A MIXED OR SPLIT SENTENCE (PART IMPRISONMENT, PART PROBATION) TO 'SHOCK' OR 'JOLT' THE INDIVIDUAL INTO A REALIZATION OF THE REALITIES OF PRISON LIFE.
Abstract
THIS REPORT IS A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND EFFECTS OF THE 1965 OHIO SPLIT-SENTENCE STATUTE. IT FOCUSES ON THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS OF JUDGES AND ON THE ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF SHOCK PROBATION IN TERMS OF REARREST, RECIDIVISM, STABILITY OF THE OFFENDER FOLLOWING RELEASE, ETC. BOTH A STATEWIDE AND A SINGLE COUNTY STUDY WERE CONDUCTED. BASED ON DISCREPANCIES IN THE DATA FROM THESE TWO STUDIES AND IN THE WAY THE PROGRAM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AND ACTUALLY WAS ADMINISTERED, RESEARCHERS SUGGEST THE NEED TO SERIOUSLY RECONSIDER THE PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE OF SHOCK PROBATION. SPECIFIC FINDINGS INDICATED AN 85 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE ON SHOCK PROBATION IN THE STATEWIDE STUDY WHILE THE COUNTY STUDY CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED GREATER SUCCESS RATES WITH REGULAR PROBATION THAN WITH SHOCK PROBATION, THOUGH BOTH FELL BELOW 85 PERCENT. A NUMBER OF DISCREPANCIES WERE ALSO REVEALED BETWEEN THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDIES WITH REGARD TO THE VARIABLES ASSOCIATED WITH SUCCESS ON SHOCK PROBATION. IN ADDITION, VIOLATIONS OF THE REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING TIME OF RELEASE AND PROHIBITING USAGE OF INSTITUTIONAL BEHAVIOR REPORTS IN DECISION-MAKING WERE UNCOVERED. SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ARE MADE.