Ch. 10 - Community Corrections

Question 1

Most offenders are sentenced to what?

Answer 1

Supervision in the community.

Question 2

What is the use of supervision in the community driven by?

Answer 2

The escalating costs of incarceration, the questionable deterrent value of incarceration, the recognition that community sanctions can help with rehab and reintegration, and the ability to target scarce resources at higher risk offenders.

Question 3

How much does it cost to incarcerate each gender per year?

Answer 3

Around $150,000 for males and $200,000 for females.

Question 4

What is the public’s opinion of community corrections?

Answer 4

People may believe in the rehabilitative effectiveness of community corrections, but they still don’t want offenders in their communities.

Question 5

How are community sentences viewed in terms of harshness by offenders and the public?

Answer 5

The public sees it as being soft on crime, but the offenders often see it as more punitive than incarceration.

Question 6

Why are community sentences seen as less desirable by offenders?

Answer 6

In jail, there don’t get much freedom or have much responsibility. In the community, there are a lot of hoops to jump through.

Question 7

What sentences are included in the umbrella term “community sentences”?

Answer 7

Probation, intensive supervison, conditional sentences, and community services.

Question 8

In what ways can an offender be sentenced to probation?

Answer 8

As a stand alone sentence, as part of a conditional discharge, as a condition of a suspended sentence, as part of an intermittent sentence, following a prison term.

Question 9

What is the maximum penalty for breach of probation?

Answer 9

If it is treated as an indictable offence, then the max sentence is 2 years in prison.

Question 10

Who was the first person to lay the foundation for probation?

Answer 10

John Augustus - a Bostonian shoe maker.

Question 11

Who did Canada use to employ as probation officers?

Answer 11

Social workers.

Question 12

How are most probation officers now recruited?

Answer 12

Via a pre-employment training model.

Question 13

What are the primary responsibilities that accompany being a probation officer?

Answer 13

Assessment of clients’ risks/needs, provision of individuals case management, and preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Question 14

What are the two dimensions of probation officers?

Answer 14

Supervision and support.

Question 15

What are pre-sentence reports?

Answer 15

Assessments of offenders, covering background and often a sentence recommendation.

Question 16

What type of background information is included in pre-sentence reports?

Answer 16

Criminal history, education, mental and physical health, family, and victim impact information.

Question 17

What percentage of judges are content with pre-sentence reports?

Answer 17

90%

Question 18

What percentage of probation officers feel qualified to fill out pre-sentence reports?

Answer 18

40%

Question 19

What are some requirements of the position of probation officer?

Answer 19

Establishing rapport and maintaining the proper balance between enforcement and support.

Question 20

What recent factors have led probation officers to take a more control/surveillance approach?

Answer 20

Increasing caseloads, concerns with accountability, and an increasing number of special offenders.

Question 21

What is intensive supervision?

Answer 21

The middle ground between probation and incarceration.

Question 22

What is the goal of intensive supervision? How is it different than probation?

Answer 22

Rehabilitation. Treatment is more stringent.

Question 23

What does intensive supervision involve?

Answer 23

More rigorous/restrictive conditions, increased monitoring, more intensive treatment interventions, and reduced caseloads for the probation officers.

Question 24

What are some assumptions made about intensive supervision?

Answer 24

That it provides better surveillance of and support for offenders, reduces prison admissions and operational costs, and offers greater protection of the public.

Question 25

Is there any evidence supporting the assumption that intensive supervision decreases prison overcrowding?

Answer 25

No.

Question 26

What are approaches involving treatment associated with?

Answer 26

Reductions in recidivism.

Question 27

What explanation is given for why intensive supervision does not decrease prison overcrowding?

Answer 27

Those under intensive supervision are more likely to be caught breaching conditions, and thus are more likely to be incarcerated.

Question 28

What is a conditional sentence?

Answer 28

A convicted individual who could have been sentenced to less than two years can be sentenced to serve that time in the community.

Question 29

Is a conditional sentence the same as probation?

Answer 29

No!

Question 30

What is the difference between a conditional sentence and probation?

Answer 30

Probation is rehabilitative, and conditional sentences are both rehabilitative and punitive.

Question 31

What happens if the offender fails to comply with conditions of a conditional sentence?

Answer 31

It may result in: no action, addition or removal of conditions, suspension of the conditional sentence, or revocation of the conditional sentence.

Question 32

What happens when a conditional sentence is suspended?

Answer 32

They serve a certain amount of time incarcerated and then return to their conditional sentence.

Question 33

What happens when a conditional sentence is revoked?

Answer 33

They serve the remainder of their sentence incarcerated.

Question 34

Why are conditional sentences handed out?

Answer 34

To reduce prison populations.

Question 35

What is electronic monitoring?

Answer 35

The use of GPS technology to continuously track offenders.

Question 36

What is the downside to using electronic monitoring?

Answer 36

It cannot help prevent crime.

Question 37

With whom is electronic monitoring most often used?

Answer 37

Low risk offenders.

Question 38

What concerns about electronic monitoring have been raised in relation to?

Answer 38

The offenders’ families and how it affects them.