NCJ Number
198253
Date Published
2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This document examines the effect of enforcement on reconviction rates in 1996 in Cambridgeshire, and Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Probation Services (United Kingdom).
Abstract
For those serving a community penalty who do not comply with the conditions, enforcement consists of a series of warning letters that can culminate in a breach proceeding. The enforcement of community penalties is important in order to maintain the confidence of the courts and the public in community sentences as a form of punishment. Also, it could be that enforcement affects reconviction rates. The samples for the two Probation Services were over 900 cases in Cambridgeshire, and about 150 cases in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Results show that, where appropriate enforcement action was taken, offenders had a lower than predicted reconviction rate. Where not all enforcement action was taken, offenders had a higher than predicted reconviction rate. Although based on very small numbers, it appeared that the effect of enforcement action was greater for females. These results held regardless of other factors, such as the predicted risk of re-offending and the number of unacceptable absences (not keeping a supervision appointment or not attending a group session without a valid reason). It appears that enforcement action was more likely to be taken against offenders with a lower likelihood of reconviction. A further reconviction study has been commissioned and will seek to establish whether the findings presented here are replicated in a larger study. 4 figures, 3 references