The Effects of Sanction Intensity on Criminal Conduct - JDAI Helpdesk

3. To what extent do the risk/need levels <strong>of</strong> program participants affect their response
(in terms <strong>of</strong> re<strong>of</strong>fending and violations) to changes in supervision intensity?
4. Which other program components or <strong>of</strong>fender characteristics moderate the overall
effect <strong>of</strong> supervision intensity on crime?
Systematic Review Methodology
Criteria for inclusion and exclusion <strong>of</strong> studies in the review
Types <strong>of</strong> Interventions
Eligible studies will test the effect <strong>of</strong> a change in intensity <strong>of</strong> probation
supervision on subsequent crime. A change in intensity could be brought about by
increasing or decreasing the ratio <strong>of</strong> clients to probation <strong>of</strong>ficers (changing caseload size);
increasing or decreasing the frequency <strong>of</strong> contact between clients and their <strong>of</strong>ficers; or
increasing or decreasing the frequency <strong>of</strong> other forms <strong>of</strong> supervisory control effected by
probation <strong>of</strong>ficers, such as drug testing. 4
Studies in which the primary purpose <strong>of</strong> the
research design is to estimate the impact <strong>of</strong> these specific measures on recidivism and/or
technical violations are considered. Most studies have tested increases in intensity rather
than decreases, but changes in both directions are eligible for inclusion in the review.
We impose a number <strong>of</strong> restrictions on program type in order to preserve
comparability between what we already know will be a highly diverse set <strong>of</strong> studies.
Some programs have examined the provision <strong>of</strong> supervision as part <strong>of</strong> a ‘team’ approach;
for example, multi-agency collaboration between probation <strong>of</strong>ficers, police <strong>of</strong>ficers, and
10