Research on Alternative Probation Strategies in Maryland: Final Report

• NCJ Number: 121797
• Author(s): J J Collins; C L Usher; J R Williams
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 187 pages
• Grant Number(s): 81-IJ-CX-0005
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Whether nonserious offenders sentenced to probation could go unsupervised without increasing the likelihood of recidivism was researched in an attempt to permit more selective use of probation supervision resources.

Abstract

Individuals in Maryland with probation sentences of 12 months or less without special conditions were randomly assigned to regular supervised probation, unsupervised probation, or a community service program. Assessment of social adjustment and recidivism during and after probation indicated that the level of supervision did not have a significant effect on outcomes except in the case of probationers who had had more than five previous arrests. Such probationers who were not supervised had comparatively high rearrest rates. The cost of supervision for those in the supervised probation group was 3.5 times higher than for the unsupervised group. When previous arrest history was controlled, these higher costs were not related to more favorable recidivism outcomes. It was concluded that the risk to the community would not be increased by shifting supervision resources away from some probationer types. Tables, exhibits, over 60 references. (Author abstract modified)