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Effectiveness of Community-Based Sanctions in Reducing Recidivism

NCJ Number
198977
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 65 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2003 Pages: 26-29
Author(s)
Ginger Martin
Date Published
February 2003
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article presents the Oregon Department of Corrections’ review of the effectiveness of community-based sanctions in preventing recidivism.
Abstract
Focusing on such sanctions as work crews, community service, electronic monitoring, house arrests, day reporting centers, work release centers, and jails, the author evaluates the effectiveness of such community sanctions in protecting the public through reducing and preventing recidivism. After reviewing literature on ways to reduce recidivism by providing alternative sanctions to jail time through community service, restitution centers, and electronic home detention, the author describes the Oregon Department of Corrections’ review of offenders receiving their first-ever sanction following a violation of the conditions of either felony probation or parole between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2001. After discussing reconviction rates and the violation of supervision sanctions, the author presents findings suggesting that community-based sanctions are an effective and preferred option in responding to supervision violations because they are often much less expensive than incarceration. The author suggests that the Oregon Department of Corrections review demonstrates that having the availability of jail cells as a back-up plan improves offenders’ compliance with alternative community-based sanctions, making these alternatives to jail much more successful in reducing recidivism.