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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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<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers more <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten than the experimental protocol required. 8<br />

N<strong>on</strong>etheless, as Barnes et<br />

al. note: “<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> two groups were clearly subjected to different numbers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tacts with<br />

their probati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers, and the experimental treatment appears to have been delivered as<br />

designed in strategy, if not in dosage.”<br />

No significant differences in new <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fending were found between the treatment<br />

and c<strong>on</strong>trol groups after <strong>on</strong>e year. Sixteen per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the treatment group and 15 per cent<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the c<strong>on</strong>trol group were charged with a new <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fense <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any type (p ≤ .593). Similarly,<br />

15 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders and 16.5 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the c<strong>on</strong>trol group were<br />

incarcerated during the same time period (p ≤ .426). Overall, it appeared that lowintensity<br />

probati<strong>on</strong> did not lead to more crime compared to supervisi<strong>on</strong> as usual, and is a<br />

safe strategy for restructuring probati<strong>on</strong> supervisi<strong>on</strong> according to APPD’s plans.<br />

Sensitivity analysis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> main results<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> idea <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reducing the amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resources made available to low-risk<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders may be c<strong>on</strong>troversial to policymakers and the public, however logical it may<br />

seem to c<strong>on</strong>centrate probati<strong>on</strong> efforts <strong>on</strong> the higher end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the risk spectrum. Distincti<strong>on</strong>s<br />

are rarely drawn between high- and low-risk <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders in popular dialogue. Although<br />

murderers and sex <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders usually arouse str<strong>on</strong>ger emoti<strong>on</strong>s than low-level thieves or<br />

drug <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders, the idea that some people who are involved with the criminal justice<br />

system at any level may ‘get away with’ minimal supervisi<strong>on</strong> may <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fend the public’s<br />

sense <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fairness. Unequal distributi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resources may also make policymakers uneasy,<br />

despite being a somewhat obvious m<strong>on</strong>ey-saving propositi<strong>on</strong>. Sherman (2007, p. 303)<br />

72

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