NCJ Number
169928
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 77 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1997) Pages: 209-228
Date Published
1997
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Intake survey data from 3,698 adult offenders placed in probation in Illinois in May 1995 were used to compare urban and rural adult probation admissions.
Abstract
Results revealed that offenders from both areas were equally likely to be male, to have a high school diploma or beyond, to be on public assistance, and to have a family income of less than $10,000 a year. Those from nonmetropolitan counties were younger, more often white, and more often employed than those in metropolitan counties. Offenders from nonmetropolitan counties were also much less likely to be on probation for drug offenses and much more likely to be on probation for the catchall category Other. Nonmetropolitan admissions also tended to be somewhat younger, to have fewer prior arrests, and to have more prior probations than did metropolitan admissions. The two groups were similar in the average number of prior imprisonments. The current sentence length averaged 20 months for both groups. The offenders were also similar in their treatment needs. Finally, nonmetropolitan probationers were more often required to pay probation fees, pay restitution, and wear an electronic monitor, while metropolitan probationers were more often required to provide community service. Figures, tables, appended methodological information and additional results, and 15 references (Author abstract modified)