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The Effects of Sanction Intensity on Criminal Conduct - JDAI Helpdesk

The Effects of Sanction Intensity on Criminal Conduct - JDAI Helpdesk

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Descripti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> methods used in primary research<br />

We located a wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> evaluati<strong>on</strong>s testing a change in probati<strong>on</strong> intensity.<br />

However, the BJA/RAND experiments from the 1980s (Petersilia & Turner, 1993)<br />

represent the ‘classic’ ISP model, and serve as a c<strong>on</strong>venient illustrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a typical study<br />

design. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> BJA/RAND studies were a fourteen-site randomized c<strong>on</strong>trolled trial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

largely surveillance/c<strong>on</strong>trol-oriented ISP programs. Two <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the study sites compared ISP<br />

to incarcerati<strong>on</strong> (so were not eligible for inclusi<strong>on</strong> in this review), while the remaining<br />

twelve c<strong>on</strong>trasted ISP with supervisi<strong>on</strong> as usual (SAU) or existing intensive supervisi<strong>on</strong><br />

models. Enhancements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both probati<strong>on</strong> and parole supervisi<strong>on</strong> were tested. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> exact<br />

nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the program depended <strong>on</strong> the study site – each jurisdicti<strong>on</strong> selected comp<strong>on</strong>ents<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Georgia ISP model for inclusi<strong>on</strong> as it saw fit. Key comm<strong>on</strong> features <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all the<br />

evaluati<strong>on</strong>s included smaller caseloads <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> around 25-30 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders per <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficer (usually<br />

compared to 100 or more in SAU), increased frequency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tact (usually at least <strong>on</strong>ce a<br />

week at first, gradually decreasing in phases), drug testing, and mandated employment.<br />

Participants in the ISP evaluati<strong>on</strong>s had to be adults. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir risk levels varied, but<br />

they were generally more serious <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders. Petersilia and Turner (1993) state: “People<br />

placed <strong>on</strong> enhancement ISPs [as opposed to pris<strong>on</strong> diversi<strong>on</strong> or early release] are<br />

generally deemed too serious to be supervised <strong>on</strong> routine caseloads” (p. 292). However,<br />

pers<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>victed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> homicide, robbery, or sex crimes were excluded as a matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

policy from the experiment. Participants were primarily males in their late twenties to<br />

early thirties, with extensive criminal records. A substantial proporti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> participants<br />

were drug dependent. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> study sites set their own eligibility criteria for participants<br />

bey<strong>on</strong>d these initial requirements. Participants were randomly assigned to treatment and<br />

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