Probation versus Imprisonment for Similar Types of Offenders

Abstract

This pilot study compares male offenders who were imprisoned with similar types who were placed on probation, to determine which program produces less subsequent criminal activity. It is based on 7,614 Wisconsin cases statistically comparable in origi nal disposition, county of commitment, type of offense com mitted, number of prior felonies, and marital status. Of the first felony offenders, those on probation had lower vio lation rates than those imprisoned and then paroled. For proba tioners and parolees with one prior felony, rates were about the same. For those with two or more prior felonies, violation rates were higher for probationers than for parolees. The frequency with which judges sentenced offenders to proba tion rather than incarceration varied directly with the extent to which the offenders were likely to violate. That is, judges tended to place those offenders with low violation rates on pro bation, the major exception being assault cases, where imprison ment was more frequently used.

On Probation - An Experimental Analysis

“…;Stalans, Yarnold et al 2004:254 (Wilkins 1957;Davis 1964;Babst and Mannering 1965;Beattie and Bridges 1970;Levin 1971;Hopkins 1976;Bartell and Winfree 1977;Menard and Covey 1983;Petersilia and Turner 1986;Glaser and Gordon 1988;Cohen, Eden et al 1991;Copas and Marshall 1998;Jehle, Heinz et al 2003;Hjalmarsson 2008). These papers differ widely in terms of coverage, methodology, sophistication and, most disturbingly, the direction and the size of the effect.…”

“…Most of the empirical literature (for a review of reviews, see Lipsey & Cullen 2007) investigates recidivism separately for prisoners (Langan & Levin 2002;Kohl et al 2008) and for probationers (the literature is reviewed by Whitehead 1991;Geerken & Hayes 1993;Morgan 1993;Minor et al 2003;Stalans et al 2004). Searching the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data, 5 the Index of Legal Periodicals, 6 and the Social Science Research Network, 7 with no time limit, and checking back with the bibliographies of the papers thus found, 8 we identified a total of 14 studies that directly compare recidivism of probationers and of prisoners (Wilkins 1957;Davis 1964;Babst & Mannering 1965;Beattie & Bridges 1970;Levin 1971;Hopkins 1976;Bartell & Winfree 1977;Menard & Covey 1983;Petersilia & Turner 1986;Glaser & Gordon 1988;Cohen et al 1991;Copas & Marshall 1998;Jehle et al 2003;Hjalmarsson 2009). These papers differ widely in terms of coverage, methodology, sophistication, and, most disturbingly, the direction and the size of the effect.…”

Predictors of placement from a juvenile detention facility

“…Scarpitti and Stephenson (March, 1968, p. 363), in examining probation effectiveness verify this trend, finding a higher rate of recidivism in those going to reform school. Babst and Mannering (July, 1965) compare probation and imprisonmente Their results show a higher rate of recidivism for those who had been imprisoned than for those who had been placed on probation.…”

Intensive Supervision by Parole Officers as a Factor in Recidivism Reduction of Male Delinquents

“…However, on th e basis of recent crime statistics (9) , present pr eventive procedures are failing to meet current needs, let alone reduce the problem. Although variabl es such as age, seriousness of offense, adjustment to the institutional environment, as well as several personality measures, may sometimes significantly predict recidi vism (1,2,3,4,7,11), many other variables ar e unreliable or based upon fal se assumptions (6). Also, the complex economic, legal, and social constraints imposed on the delinquent often make it difficult to isolate and control the predictor variables.…”