Theory and Practice
RESEARCH-BASED SMARTER SENTENCING Training for Prosecutors, Public Defenders, Judges, and Community Corrections Professionals Participant Notebook RESEARCH -BASED SMARTER SENTENCING Participant Notebook The Justice Management Institute 1888 Sherman Street, Suite 410 Denver, CO 80203 Phone: 303.831.7564 Fax: 303.831.4564 www.jmijustice.org The Carey Group 5259 Oak Ridge Court White Bear Lake, MN Phone: 651.324.3886 www.thecareygroupinc.com This project was supported by Grant No. 2008-DD-BX-0683 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the United States Department of Justice. All copyrighted materials used with permission. Table of Contents MODULE 1: I NTRODUCTI ON TO RESEARCH-BASED SMARTER SENTENCI NG&OVERVI EW Module 1 Learning Objectives 2 Rationale for the Course 2 Background 3 References 6 Exercise: How Do My Decisions Affect My Colleagues? Module 2 Learning Objectives 10 Background 11 References 23 Exercise: Sanction Policy Assessment 26 Sentencing Choices Exercise: Case MODULE 3: HOW DO RESEARCH-BASED PRACTI CES ENSURE EFFECTIVE SENTENCES REDUCE RECIDIVISM? NEW Module 4 Learning Objectives 73 Rationale 74 References 81 Exercise: 82 EBP or No EBP Exercise: To Tell the Truth: 13 Questions Judges, Prosecutors, and Defense 8 MODULE 2: WHAT I S “ SMARTER SENTENCI NG? ” Scenarios MODULE 4: NEW TOOLS FOR CHALLENGES 33 Attorneys Should Ask Their Probation Chiefs 83 MODULE 5: SMARTER SENTENCI NG I N ACTI ON : OTHER JURI SDICTI ONS’ EXPERI ENCES Module 5 Learning Objectives 89 Rationale 89 Travis County Community Impact Supervision 89 Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission 93 TO Module 3 Learning Objectives 39 Rationale 39 References 58 Figures 61 Exercise: Doing Good, Doing Harm 66 Exercise: Rank the Plates 70 Exercise: The War Of the Sexes 70 Exercise: Name that Sentence 71 References 95 Figures 96 MODULE 6: PLANNI NG ACTI ON Module 6 Learning Objectives 100 References 106 Action Plan Template for Implementing Research-Based Practices 107 APPENDI X: OTHER APPLI CATI ONS OF RESEARCH-BASED PRACTI CE AND POLI CY 113 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G 1 Module Introduction to ResearchBased Smarter Sentencing & Course Overview Prosecutors, defenders, judges, and community corrections professionals all play critical roles in reducing the risk of re-offending and through a systemic application of research-based practices can work to reduce recidivism. E ver since the 1970s, the prison population in the United States has been growing by leaps and bounds. The justification for placing an ever greater number of offenders behind bars has been the need to protect the community against a rapidly spreading wave of crime. Yet even after the dramatic increase in crime rates of the 1980s began to taper off in the 1990s and into the new millennium, the pace of imprisonment continued to grow. The result has been an enormous expansion in the number of men and women coming out of prison each year, who are increasingly unsupervised by law enforcement agencies and who are generally unprepared to lead law-abiding lives. It is this issue of prisoner reentry, some 700,000 persons annually, not counting jails, which has led scholars and practitioners alike to question the wisdom of the sentencing practices in criminal justice which have resulted in these skyrocketing rates of incarceration. These queries have been raised in light of a rapidly growing body of research, known as ResearchBased Practices, which demonstrates that the goals of changing offender behavior and reducing recidivism I C O N K E Y can be achieved more effectively and at lesser cost in Learning objective community corrections compared to jail and prison. Indeed, the same research demonstrates that Materials & resources incarceration may make the incidence of reoffense Worksheets & exercises worse rather than better. 1 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G This course is designed to work with the primary stakeholders in the criminal justice system—prosecutors, defenders, the judiciary, and probation and parole—to apply high-quality research to practices of plea negotiation, sentencing, and revocation from community supervision in local jurisdictions. Its goal is to provide the knowledge and skills to practitioners required to develop Smarter Sentencing policies that will reduce reliance on the expensive sanction of incapacitation, whether in jail or prison, while enhancing public safety. Module 1 Learning Objectives This module is designed to explain the background and rationale for this course and to introduce the basic concepts that will be discussed during the course. At the end of this module, participants will Understand the reasons why ―smarter sentencing‖ has become a buzz word in criminal justice Identify how smarter sentencing relates to offender reentry into the community and to the reduction of recidivism List potential benefits of smarter sentencing Rationale for the Course This course is designed to apply the latest high-quality research to the practices of plea negotiation, sentencing, and revocation in local criminal justice jurisdictions in order to Reduce reliance on the expensive sanction of incapacitation through incarceration in jail and prison Enhance the ability of persons released from jail and prison, whether under community supervision or not, to lead law-abiding lives 2 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Improve the capacity of the local criminal justice system to change offender behavior and reduce recidivism Create and institutionalize a process of ―smarter‖ sentencing that will increase the capacity of the local criminal justice stakeholders, both individually and collectively, to protect public safety the core of Research-based practices is the understanding that risk reduction is key—preventing tomorrow‘s crime is just as important as punishing yesterday‘s act. Many of the practices used widely in the justice system fail to achieve risk reduction, and in fact some, as evidenced by the research, in fact increase risk. Certainly, this is not to suggest that traditional practices should be dismissed entirely. Rather, prosecutors, judges, and defenders should understand the evidence around these practices so that informed decisions are made about cases and defendants. At the end of this course, participants will be able to: Define research-based smarter sentencing List the primary elements of Research-Based Practice Apply research to smarter sentencing practices Explain how Research-Based Practice improves the quality of criminal justice decision-making and enhances the power of professional discretion Develop an action plan for introducing smarter sentencing practices into local jurisdictions Background Increasingly, policy makers at all levels of government are focused on improving the outcomes of the justice system in a manner that is cost-effective, fair, and just. Smarter sentencing, based on sound research about what works in reducing recidivism has emerged over the past few years as a major consideration for local criminal justice systems for many reasons: The cost of incarceration has skyrocketed over time. Over the last two decades state spending on prison construction and operations has increased faster than any other portion of state budgets. For example, state spending on corrections rose 127% during this time while spending on higher education rose only 21%. Reentry has become an increasing problem for states and localities. High rates of imprisonment have led to high rates of release, and over 95% of all 3 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G prisoners do return home. Every year almost 700,000 offenders leave state prisons. At the same time as rates of incarceration have increased dramatically, research in Canada and the United States has demonstrated effective ways to change the behavior and reduce the recidivism of all but the highest risk offenders. The research shows that better results along both measures can be achieved under community supervision than in jail and prison. Probation and parole agencies in particular have taken this research, known as Research-Based Practice, and applied it to their clientele with significant results, achieving on average anywhere from 10% to 30% reductions in recidivism. Probation and parole agencies cannot achieve research-based outcomes alone. They function in local and state criminal justice systems in conjunction with other stakeholders ranging from prosecutors to defenders to judges. Policies focusing on research-based Smarter Sentencing practices can enhance the ability of all stakeholders to expand their capability for protecting public safety. All stakeholders in a local jurisdiction must know about and apply ResearchBased Practices in their decision making. If they do not collaborate, the actions of one stakeholder may cancel out or even contradict those of another, resulting in a ―wash‖ when it comes to reducing recidivism. Many of the budget cuts taking place in criminal justice agencies are leading to the elimination of programs that are research-based and capable of positively affecting criminal behavior. On the other hand, Smarter Sentencing practices can both save money and reduce recidivism. Incarceration: The Costs One in 100 adult Americans are in jails or prisons for an annual cost of $50 billion Average cost per inmate is $79/day or $29,000/year In the year 2000 o 13 million American were ex-felons (6% of population) o 11% of adult males were ex-felons o 29% to 37% of adult black males were ex-felons 4 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G o In the state of Washington every dollar invested in new prison beds reaps only 37 cents in averted crime Reentry: An Official Definition The term reentry is used by different people to refer to different types of ―reentry.‖ For the purposes of this course, the following definition of reentry is used. According to the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, “reentry involves the use of programs targeted at promoting the effective reintegration of offenders back to communities upon release from prison and jail….to assist offenders in acquiring the life skills needed to succeed in the community and become law-abiding citizens.” Reentry: The Numbers 700,000 prisoners are being released each year Among state parole discharges in 2000 o 41% successfully completed supervision o 42% returned to prison or jail o 9% absconded Parole violators account for 35% of admissions to state prisons (60% in California) Half of local jail inmates were on probation or parole when they were arrested More than 40% of probationers do not complete supervision successfully The Cost of Recidivism Any reduction in the revocation and re-incarceration rate of offenders on parole can have tremendous fiscal savings for a state. Consider the following two examples: In Georgia, a one percent reduction in parole recidivism saves the state $7 million in incarceration costs In Texas, a one percent reduction in felony revocation and return to incarceration saves the state $55 million in incarceration costs alone 5 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Why Are These Outcomes Unacceptable? Identify the reasons why you think the criminal justice system has not been as successful as it could be when it comes to reentry, and in particular, how individual agency decisions affect other entities within the system. Potential Benefits of Smarter Sentencing Approaches Smarter sentencing approaches, based on sound research, offer many potential benefits to local criminal justice systems. These approaches can: Enrich plea negotiations and sentencing decisions through the use of the best research evidence available about risk to re-offend Reduce reliance on incarceration, when appropriate, without sacrificing public safety Reduce recidivism and revocations of probationers and parolees Lower the costs to the public of the criminal justice system Enhance the cooperation of criminal justice stakeholders in producing the desired justice and public safety outcomes Improve the safety of the public References Burke, P, When Offenders Break the Rules: Smart Responses to Parole and Probation Violations. http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Rep orts/sentencing_and_corrections/Condition-Violators-KeyQuestions.pdf Pew Center of the States, Putting Public Safety First: 13 Strategies for Successful Supervision and Reentry (December 2008) U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, ―Reentry Trends in the United States,‖ 2008 6 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Warren, R.K., Evidence-Based Practice to Reduce Recidivism: Implications for State Judiciaries. Crime and Justice Institute and the National Institute of Corrections, August 2007 7 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G COMPLETE THIS PAGE – DO NOT FORM A GROUP. PLACE YOURSELF IN ONE OF THE POSITIONS LISTED AND ANSWER EACH QUESTION FULLY. Exercise: How Do My Decisions Affect My Colleagues? In small groups, participants should address the questions listed below. Record answers on the flip chart provided and elect a spokesperson to share the group‘s responses with the larger group. 1. How do my decisions and actions as a (prosecutor, judge, defender, community corrections professional) support the efforts of my colleagues in reducing the rate of recidivism and re-incarceration of reentry offenders? a. b. c. d. e. 2. How do my decisions and actions hinder the efforts of my colleagues to achieve this goal? a. b. c. d. e. 3. What three things might we do differently to enhance #1 and what three things might we do differently to reduce #2? a. b. c. a. b. c. 8 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G 2 Module What is Smarter Sentencing? Prosecutors, judges, defense counsel, and corrections officials make the best decisions they can given the evidence they have; however, having access to the state-of-the-art in what works to help guide decision-making enhances professional discretion and can result in even smarter sentencing. T here is a growing sentiment among criminal justice practitioners and researchers that the criminal justice system is ―broken‖ and needs repair. The imbalanced reliance on incarceration, the growing costs of operating the system and the failure significantly to reduce recidivism rates of offenders are among the problems constantly highlighted by reviewers. While most research on improving the function of criminal justice has focused on probation and parole, there is a growing awareness of the network aspects involved in protecting public safety. Actions taken by one stakeholder either at the front end of the process in terms of plea negotiation and sentencing, as well as at the back end of the process, in terms of revocation from community supervision, can result in positive, neutral or even harmful outcomes. Unless stakeholders become willing to recognize their interdependency in dealing with each other and with offenders, they run the risk of working at cross purposes to their mutual detriment and to the detriment of the public that they serve. At present too many decisions by too many key stakeholders are being made without regard to the consequences for the criminal justice system as a whole and without regard to scientific research. Smarter Sentencing is a policy and practice designed to deal with both of these issues and to enhance the quality and reliability of the professional decisions that prosecutors, defenders, judges and community corrections staff make every day. I C O N K E Y Learning objective Materials & resources Worksheets & exercises The Module is designed to introduce the concept of Smarter Sentencing and apply it to the process of professional decision making both at the front end of the criminal justice system, in terms of plea negotiation and sentencing, and at the back end, 8 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G in terms of revocation from probation or parole. It justifies the need for Smarter Sentencing because: A growing body of research supports the notion that stakeholders can make ―smarter‖ and better decisions in terms of changing criminal behavior by paying more attention to scientific evidence Despite the adversarial nature of the criminal justice system, collaboration based on scientific evidence can produce more just and more effective decisions for the offender and for the public The financial cost of continuing down the current path can no longer be supported by taxpayers, especially if it does not address the growing problem of reentry and the failure to reduce their rates of recidivism. Module 2 Learning Objectives This module focuses on the policy and practice of Smarter Sentencing. It examines the function of criminal justice sanctions, the impact of these sanctions on criminal behavior and recidivism, the role of scientific research in improving professional judgment, and the effect of Research-based decision making on questions of reentry. It concludes by providing a rationale and justification for adopting Smarter Sentencing practices as an important means for improving system collaboration and effectiveness and for changing offender behavior and criminal activity. By the end of this module, participants will be able to: Define the goals of the criminal justice system and criminal sentencing process Identify the primary criminal justice sanctions used to achieve these goals Apply research concerning the purpose and effectiveness of each goal Define smarter sentencing and its role in enhancing the quality of professional decision making in criminal justice 10 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Background Goals of the Criminal Justice System In 1993, the Bureau of Justice Statistics in the United States Department of Justice convened a distinguished panel of scholars, headed by political scientist John DiIulio, to identify the primary goals and performance measures of the American criminal justice system. The panel agreed that three goals in particular were of greatest importance: Efficiency: economically apply available resources to accomplish statutory goals and improve public safety Effectiveness: proper regard for equity, proportionality, constitutional protections and public safety outcomes Fairness: equal treatment and handling of similarly situated offenders Judicial Discretion vs. Evidence-Based Sentencing ―If we think rationally about what is in our own best interest—that is, public safety—we should try to determine what reduces recidivism. We must pay particular attention to which sentences make recidivism more likely, which sentences are ineffectual at reducing recidivism, and which programs and punishment-treatment regimens have the best outcomes.‖ Honorable Michael A. Wolff Judge Michael A. Wolff was appointed to the Supreme Court of Missouri in 1998, was retained by voters for a twelve-year term in 2000, and served as Chief Justice from 2005 to 2007. He is presently Chair of the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission and has been instrumental in providing an evidence-based foundation to Missouri‘s sentencing guidelines. He has been particularly interested in focusing sentencing on producing public safety outcomes of value to the public. Judge Wolff contends that when the wrong people are placed in prison, prosecutors and judges inadvertently make the problem of crime worse rather than better. Wolff 11 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G asserts that by the 1980s, when rapid expansion of prisons took off in the United States, the worst offenders were already behind bars. Prison growth allowed the incarceration of large numbers of non-violent, ―marginal‖ offenders who became recidivists in greater numbers than if they had been punished outside prison. This result has endangered rather than enhanced public safety. Wolff argues that we must now get sentencing right by once again focusing on public safety as an outcome of the process. He feels judicial discretion should be ―rebranded‖ as ―evidence-based sentencing.‖ While the centrality of discretion must remain in plea negotiation and sentencing, in order for that discretion to be effective in terms of protecting the public, it must Be informed about the risks and needs of offenders Measure the effectiveness of treatment programs and the outcomes of sentences Use data to help determine which people to incarcerate and which to supervise in the community. The Elements of Risk Management Ever since the 1970s, when the sociologist Robert Martinson argued in an influential research article that ―nothing works‖ in terms of correctional treatment and rehabilitation, American correctional policy has focused on incapacitating offenders either in jail or in prison. Conservative scholars and politicians argued that the only way to manage offender risk to the community was through punishment and control. In the process they ignored the fact that correctional risk management actually consists of two factors: control and reduction. They further ignored a burgeoning body of research that demonstrates that, despite Martinson‘s contentions (which he later recanted a few years after his initial article), the application of risk reduction techniques to offender behavior can alter it in a pro-social direction and diminish the potential for recidivism. Today a more balanced, Research-based approach to the issue of offender risk management has reinstated both the factor of control and reduction to sentencing policy and practice. It defines Risk control as aiming to reduce crime by limiting the offender‘s capacity to carry out new criminal acts, and Risk reduction as seeking to diminish the likelihood that an offender will elect to commit another crime. 12 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Sentencing & Risk Management One of the primary mechanisms for achieving risk management is the process of criminal sentencing. It involves four key stakeholders: prosecutors, defenders, judges, and community corrections staff. Sentencing can take place after a person has been charged and arraigned for a crime (the front end of the process) or after a person has violated an existing order of the court or a parole board while under community supervision (the back end of the process), either by being rearrested or for technical reasons, such as failure to pass a drug test or to appear for a scheduled office visit. While each stakeholder has an ―adversarial‖ interest in the outcome of the sentencing process, all stakeholders are generally agreed that criminal sentences are designed to apply five types of sanctions. Criminal Justice Sanction Functions There are five different criminal justice sanctions: 1. Retribution (Just Deserts) 2. Incapacitation 3. Deterrence (General and Specific) 4. Rehabilitation 5. Restoration Each of these sanctions serves as a penalty that can be imposed upon an offender by a court or other lawfully authorized criminal justice practitioner for behavior that violated criminal law. The sanctions are essential elements of the sentencing function and serve two basic purposes: They symbolize society‘s support for violated social values They reduce the offender‘s future criminal conduct Retribution (Just Deserts) Retribution is not designed to serve a utilitarian purpose by preventing future criminal wrong or achieving a societal good. It is what the offender deserves. It is the punishment that is morally required by the offense that has been committed. It focuses solely on the need of society to enforce community norms. It is characterized by phrases such as ―an eye for an eye,‖ ―a tooth or a tooth,‖ or ―let the punishment fit the crime.‖ 13 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Although claims are often made that retribution has a positive impact on crime, there is very little research that supports this claim or has any last resulting on changing criminal behavior. In fact, research overwhelmingly confirms that punishment: By itself will not change criminal behavior and reduce recidivism Produces short-term compliance by the offender at best Taken alone actually tends to increase recidivism slightly Can be effective as a behavioral modification support for treatment and rehabilitation Recent studies show that rather than deterring offenders from future crime, punishment may actually produce the opposite results. Punished offenders tend to believe that The likelihood of being sanctioned is lower than do their less punished colleagues, especially if they are high-risk offenders The punishment experience helps insulate them from future apprehension by the police because they will become ―smarter‖ If they are low-risk offenders, the ―gambler‘s fallacy‖ will hold true, whereby relatively rare events such as apprehension and punishment for a crime are unlikely to reoccur, especially soon afterward. They will be encouraged to think that next time they have a greater chance of ―getting away with it.‖ Incapacitation Incapacitation seeks to prevent future criminal wrong doing by physically restricting the offender or limiting the offender‘s activities in some way. While it does prevent most criminal acts during the offender‘s period of confinement, unless it is linked with some type of treatment, it slightly increases the risk of recidivism after reentry. Incapacitation alone is not an effective way of changing behavior and reducing the risk of recidivism. During their time of incarceration, most offenders do not ―see the light‖ and become determined to lead law-abiding lives upon release. The most comprehensive statistical study to date, completed by Patrick A. Langan and David J. Levin for a three-year period from 1991 to 1994, illustrated what occurs to most state prisoners upon release: 14 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G 67% committed a least one serious new crime within 3 years The total number of new arrest charges in the 3 years was 744,000 Highest recidivism rates were among nonviolent offenders o Motor vehicle theft (78.8%) o Possession or sale of stolen property (77.4%) o Larceny (74.6%) o Burglary (74.0%) In a recent report from The Pew Center for the States on recidivism rates for offenders leaving state prisons across the country, states were asked to report threeyear return-to-prison rates for all inmates who were released in 1999 and in 2004. Thirty-three states provided data for 1999 and 41 for 2004. Pew defined recidivism as re-incarceration for a new crime or a violation of the conditions of release within three years after leaving prison. It found overall that more than four out of 10 prior offenders were returned to prison in that three-year time frame. The Pew study revealed the following results: 45.5% of people released from prison in 1999 and 43.3% in 2004 were reincarcerated within 3 years for a new crime or a technical violation The rate of re-incarceration for a new crime increased by 11.9% The rate of re-incarceration for a technical violation decreased by 17.7% With the exclusion of California, recidivism rates between 1994 and 2007 have remained around 40%. In effect, the dramatic increase in incarceration rates over the last two decades has had little or no effect on prisoner re-entry rates after release. While some progress has been made in reducing recommitments due to technical violations, the rate of reincarceration for a new crime has continued to climb. A meta-analysis of 50 studies dating from 1958 involving 336,052 offenders found that: 15 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Prisons produce slight increase in recidivism Lower risk offenders are negatively affected Prisons should not be used with expectation of reducing criminal behavior Excessive use of incarceration has enormous cost implications Primary justification of prison should be to incapacitate and exact retribution In a recent review of 5 randomized studies and 32 ―matched‖ or ―propensity score‖ studies on the effects of imprisonment on subsequent reoffending rates, it was found that there was either a null effect or a criminogenic effect. The authors concluded that prisons do not have any special powers to ―scare offenders straight‖ and might actually do harm to public safety by achieving the opposite result. They concluded that there was no justification to be found in the research evidence for the claim that prisons in their current form can reduce re-offending. In a 2010 study of a matched-sample of offenders in The Netherlands sentenced either to up to six months in prison for the first time or to community service for the first time, it was found that recidivism rates for all crimes for those who went to prison were higher after 1, 3, 5 and 8 years. For example, those sentenced to prison had an average annual conviction rate (0.52) that was almost double that of persons placed on community service (0.28) after five years. The absolute difference in recidivism in that time span after community service and imprisonment was 1.21 convictions. It appears that doing up to 240 hours of community service versus doing six months in prison was a more effective way, both in terms of cost and recidivism, of being ―tough on crime‖ for offenders who had received neither sanction before. A study of data collected from a county in Indiana where offenders were sentenced to one of the county‘s intermediate sanctions programs (including house arrest) traditional probation, county jail or state prison, or a combination of these, revealed that after a minimum two-year follow-up those who had received house arrest were less likely to be re-arrested than those who had received probation alone. Indeed, house arrest in combination with any of the other sentencing options proved to be an effective sanction. Although traditional probation with house arrest produced the lowest recidivism rates, incarceration and work release did not prove to be any more effective than traditional probation in terms of reducing re-arrests. The proponents of incarceration as the primary way of dealing with the crime problem in the United States have always contended that incarceration is an effective (if not the most effective) way to protect public safety, that the public wishes to see offenders ―locked up,‖ that correctional professionals see jail and prison as the only 16 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G effective alternative, and that offenders themselves fear jail and prison and will do anything to avoid getting sent there. Putting each of these contentions under the microscope of scientific research, the resulting picture becomes quite different from the argument: Incarceration and the public If election campaigns were the only bellwether of public opinion concerning its attitude towards crime, it would seem that ―throwing away the key‖ and ―exacting a pound of flesh‖ were the only alternatives on its mind. But over the last ten to fifteen years, one public opinion survey after another has demonstrated that Americans, while certainly interested in punishing offenders, had a quite nuanced perspective on how to deal with offenders to get them to change their unlawful ways and habits. One recent comprehensive summary of these polls discovered that o There is a large reservoir of punitive sentiments towards offenders o These beliefs are not fixed or rigid, but are flexible and ―mushy‖ o Public support for the correctional system to rehabilitate offenders is strong, especially for non-violent offenders o Public support for juvenile rehabilitation, including youthful offenders, is very strong A 2006 National Center for State Courts Survey regarding the public‘s support for incarceration found: o Broad public support for treatment and rehabilitation to reduce offender recidivism, especially non-violent offenders o 80% of respondents said offenders can turn their lives around o 77% preferred to use tax dollars to fund jobs and treatment rather than new prisons o Overwhelming majority favored treatment over prison for mentally ill, youthful offenders, and drug offenders Incarceration and corrections professionals Just as the public has been pictured as demanding vengeance and retribution by the proponents of incarceration, so too has a similar image been painted of correctional professionals. While there does not seem to be solid research concerning most 17 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G professional‘s attitude towards incarceration, it can be noted that in probation and parole over the last two decades there has been a general adoption of Research-based Practices as an effective method for dealing even with violent offenders in the community. Among institutional correctional professionals, there has been a growing recognition that we cannot simply deal with crime by locking away its perpetrators. Such a strategy would not only bankrupt states and localities, but would get relatively little ―bang for the buck‖ in terms of reducing recidivism, especially among a reentry population from jail and prison. Incarceration and offenders Most people assume that offenders see jail and prison much as they do, as a place to be avoided at all costs. For the average citizen, spending a night behind bars is unimaginable. If they do make a mistake, they would much prefer to pay back their debt under some form of community supervision. While most offenders certainly do not want to be caught and punished for their crimes, and would certainly like to remain at liberty, recent research has clearly demonstrated that for offenders, incarceration does not necessarily hold the same horror that it does for the law-abiding citizen. One recent study of offender preferences among criminal justice sanctions indicated that o Offenders, especially incarcerated offenders, do not necessarily see prison as the most stringent punishment they can receive o Many offenders see alternatives to incarcertion as a significant ―gamble‖ and not worth the effort o At least one-third of offenders, especially non-violent offenders, would choose prison over any duration of an alternative, or would not serve as much of an alternative as prison o For offenders with prison experience, prison may be ―the lesser of two evils‖ o Prior prison experience makes one less fearful of prison and more willing to return than serve time in community In a major review of the literature on the effects of imprisonment as a deterrent to future crime, Steven N. Durlauf and Daniel S. Nagin concluded that the research has determined a more criminogenic rather than preventive impact of imprisonment on future criminal conduct. Individuals sentenced to custodial sanctions generally have higher recidivism rates than those receiving non-custodial sentences. Indeed, it may very well be that it is the fact of imprisonment itself that is the source of higher recidivism. If that proves to be the case, then alternative sanctions are worth pursuing if the sanctioning goal is to change criminal behavior and reduce recidivism. 18 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Deterrence (General & Specific) Among all sanctioning goals, deterrence is probably the most widely supported in the sentencing process. Deterrence rests of the premise that human beings want to maximize pleasure and avoid pain and enhance the personal benefits of their action and minimize the costs. Thus, according to the theory, when criminals see the punishment meted out to those of their colleagues who have been caught and prosecuted, their example will deter them from committing similar acts and going down the same law-breaking path. In effect, even if they are inclined to rob, steal and do violent harm, they will think twice before actualizing their thoughts. They will weigh the chances of being caught and look to avoid the pain of being punished. The greater the possibility that they will be apprehended and the higher the price they will have to pay, the less the likelihood that they will commit the crime. Deterrence as a sanction has two targets: General deterrence seeks to prevent future crime by making an example of someone. It sends a message to the community that ―this could happen to you.‖ It reinforces social norms and prevents most people from stepping over the line and breaking the law. Specific deterrence seeks to prevent future crime by the individual on whom the sanction is to be imposed. The intent is to frighten the offender out of future wrong doing. According to Durlauf and Nagin, there is little debate over the efficacy of general deterrence as a means to prevent crime. The entire criminal justice system is designed to produce this effect on the general populace. The controversy among theorists, researchers and practitioners alike arises with respect to specific deterrence, especially for those persons at risk of criminal behavior. While the evidence is clear that imprisonment is a weak , if not criminogenic, vehicle for achieving specific deterrence, the nature of possible, research-based alternatives remains under discussion. Specific deterrence rests on three principles: swiftness, certainty and severity (or proportionality). Of the three, severity or harshness of sentences seems to have the least effect. Of much greater impact in deterring recidivistic behavior is the swiftness and certainty with which apprehension actually occurs or is perceived by the offender to occur. One study measuring the effectiveness of severity as a means to specific deterrence looked at the types of sentences meted out by judges in felony drug cases for distribution or possession with intent to distribute. The researchers selected nine judges and assigned cases to them in sequential fashions without regard to the facts of the case or the characteristics of the accused. As a result the judges each had very similar distributions of cases along 20 different dimensions, with 85% of the defendants 19 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G having at least one prior arrest and 67% at least one prior conviction. The proportion of offenders who were incarcerated ranged across the judges from a low of 23% to a high of 65%; the proportion who received probation ranged from 29% to 60%. The average non-suspended prison sentence varied from 5.1 months to 11.9 months. The measure of recidivism was a rearrest on any criminal charge in Washington, DC or Maryland within 4 years of the date of sentencing. Despite the fact that incarcerated offenders had less time to recidivate, it turned out that those persons receiving harsher sentences were more likely to recidivate. Differently stated, there was no evidence that the harsher sentences reduced the incidence of recidivism. Despite the tremendous belief in the efficacy of deterrence as a sanction among law enforcement and criminal justice professionals, until recently these ideas have rested more on assumptions than on solid research. What research does exist, still is producing mixed results. The application of most deterrence sanctions is based on what economists and scientists call rational choice theory. This theory assumes that there is basically only one norm of action, namely rationality, which guides an individual‘s choice in making decisions. The more extreme versions of rational choice basically see people as costbenefit computing machines, who use near-perfect information to enhance pleasure and minimize pain, or as economists like to say, to maximize personal preference schedules As a form of rational choice theory, deterrence contends that most offenders are rational like everyone else and that they are aware of the sanction, perceive it as unpleasant, weigh the costs and benefits, assess the risk, and make a rational choice wherever possible. Mark Kleiman, one of the nation‘s leading scholars on deterrence theory and offender desistance from crime, addresses the notion of the ―rational‖ offender. He notes that in terms of cost/benefit calculations, most crime really ―does not pay‖ in the sense that the present value of illicit gain is often far less than what can be made even from unskilled lawful endeavors: A residential burglar receives less that $10 in illicit gains per expected day spent behind bars Retail crack dealers in many markets earn less that the minimum wage per expected day spent behind bars Kleiman shows that the criminally active population is overrepresented with persons who are Present-oriented, reckless and impulsive 20 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Give undue weight to immediate future over even the slightly long term Under estimate the small risks of large disasters by comparison with high probabilities of small gains Less likely to respond to the severity of punishment Nonetheless, according to Kleiman, deterrence may work within some contexts if Punishment is swift and certain and not just severe The time between violation and response is short The deterrent threat is directly communicated to potential violators Another example of specific deterrence in practice that has recently been studied is the Hawaii Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program, started by Judge Steven Alm in 2004. It was designed to use the most current research on specific deterrence to develop a program that drug offenders on probation would take seriously. In contrast to drug court, HOPE does not focus on drug treatment, but rather on the enforcement of conditions of probation. The theory was that swift and certain responses to probationer misconduct would have a positive impact on drug abuse and misbehavior. HOPE starts with a formal hearing with the probationer informing her or him that any infraction of the conditions of probation, including a dirty drug test, will result in an immediate short stay in jail. Repeated failure will result in longer jail stays. Upon learning of a violation of a condition of probation the presiding judge issues a bench warrant for the probationer‘s immediate arrest and punishment in jail. The National Institute of Justice funded researchers to conduct a randomized controlled trial of HOPE. Researchers used a risk assessment tool to identify 493 men and women at elevated risk of violating the terms of their probation through drug use, missed appointments or reoffending. Roughly two-thirds of the sample were assigned as HOPE probationers and one-third received traditional probation. The results of the two groups were compared after three months, six months and one year. The findings were that HOPE probationers were 57% less likely to be arrested for a new crime 72% less likely to use drugs 61% less likely to miss an appointment with their officer 53% less likely to be revoked 21 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Although the findings from the HOPE evaluation are encouraging, there are three problems noted by the evaluators: o The external validity of the results are in question, as HOPE has not been able to be replicated elsewhere o The evaluators could not identify the crucial elements needed to produce the HOPE results o The evaluators do not know if the effects of HOPE will continue once probation and its external controls on the offender end Despite some early success for deterrence in the form of desistance theory, it is still based on the efficacy of punishment as a vehicle for changing offender behavior. Ed Latessa at the University of Cincinnati, a long-term proponent of Research-Based Practices, observes that behavior research shows that certain people appear to be resistant to punishment under any circumstances, and that criminals are disproportionately represented in this population. Resisters to punishment are: Psychopathic risk takers Those under the influence of a substance Those with a history of being punished Restoration is another and the newest criminal justice sanction to be used by stakeholders as a goal of sentencing. Restoration seeks to restore the harm done to a victim, the community, and the offender by the commission of a criminal act. It often refers to ―making whole the torn fabric of the community.‖ Research on the effectiveness of restorative justice in reducing crime, especially with respect to higher risk offenders, is weak. According to Edward Latessa, restorative justice applications show some evidence that victim satisfaction increases, may be most appropriate for lower and medium-risk offenders, are most effective in terms of property crimes, and have better effect sizes with juveniles than with adults. In addition, it is unclear how much effect restorative justice applications have with higherrisk adult offenders. Rehabilitation and Treatment Rehabilitation and treatment are the primary criminal justice sanctions intended to deal with risk reduction. While punishment is not a utilitarian sanction, incapacitation focuses primarily on risk control, and deterrence seeks to deal with risk reduction in the context of external punishment, rehabilitation focuses on changing offender cognitions and behavior: 22 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Rehabilitation and Treatment seek to prevent future criminal behavior by focusing on the criminogenic needs of the offender and offering some way to have those needs addressed. What is Smarter Sentencing? Smarter Sentencing is the use of research and science to enhance the decision making ability of criminal justice stakeholders in the selection and application of fair, just, proportionate and effective sanctioning goals. Smarter Sentencing is designed to: Ensure that punishment and incarceration are used for properly targeted offenders Enhance the decision-making of sentencing stakeholders by providing Research-Based alternatives to incarceration for dealing with offenders Reduce the over-emphasis on punishment and incarceration as sanctioning goals Address the problem of facilitating successful re-entry of offenders by reducing the number of offenders sentenced or revoked to jail or prison Reduce the costs of criminal justice and corrections without sacrificing public safety References Andrews, Donald A. (2007), Principles of Effective Correctional Programs, in Motiuk, Laurence L. and Serin, Ralph C. (2007). Compendium 2000 on Effective Correctional Programming. Correctional Service Canada. Available at http://www.cscscc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/compendium/2000/index-eng.shtml Cullen, Francis T. and Melissa M. Moon, ―Reaffirming Rehabilitation: Public Support for Correctional Treatment,‖ in Harry E. Allen, ed., Risk Reduction: Interventions for Special Needs Offenders, 2002. 23 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G DiIulio, John D., et.al., Performance Measures for the Criminal Justice System, US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, October 1993 (NCJ 143505) Durlauf, Steven N. and Daniel S. Nagin (2011). Imprisonment and crime. Can both be reduced? Criminology and Public Policy, 10(1), 13-54. Hawken, Angela and Mark Kleiman (December 2009). Managing Drug Involved Probationers with Swift and Certain Sanctions: Evaluating Hawaii‘s HOPE. U.S. Department of Justice. Document No. 229023. Hawaii HOPE Probation Johnson, Alan, ―Prison director demands reforms,‖ The Columbus Dispatch, February 13, 2009 Mark A. R. Kleiman and Angela Hawken, ―Fixing the Parole System,‖ Issues in Science and Technology (Summer 2008). Langan, Patrick A. and David J. Levin, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 1994 (2002). NCJ 193427 Edward Latessa, ―What Works and What Doesn‘t in Reducing Recidivism: The Principles of Effective Intervention‖ http://www.dsgonline.com/Program_Logic_Model/San_Diego_TM/Day%201Lunch-Latessa.ppt Nagin, Daniel S., Francis T. Cullen, and Cheryl Lero Johnson (2009). Imprisonment and Reoffending. In Crime and Justice. A Review of Research (Michael Tonry, ed.), Vol. 38 National Institute of Corrections, ―Overview of Minnesota‘s Correctional System.‖ http://www.nicic.org/Features/StateStats/?State=MN Petersilia, Joan, ―Hard Time: Ex-Offenders Returning Home After Prison,‖ Corrections Today (April 2005). Pew Center on the States (April 2011). State of Recidivism: The Revolving Door of America‘s Prisons. Washington, DC: The Pew Charitable Trust. Pew Center on the States, One in 31: The Long Reach of American Corrections, 2008 24 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Pogarsky, Greg, ―Deterrence, Context, and Crime Decision Making,‖ Criminology and Public Policy, February 2008, 5-8. Sherman, L.W., & Strang, H. (2007). Restorative Justice: The Evidence. The Smith Institute. Jeffrey T. Ulmer (2001). Intermediate Sanctions: A Comparative Analysis of the Probability and Severity of Recidivism. Sociological Inquiry, 71, 164-193. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice (April 6, 2011). ‗Swift and Certain‘ Sanctions in Probation Are Highly Effective: Evaluation of the HOPE Program. United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, ―Reentry.‖ http://www.reentry.gov/learn.html Warren, Roger K., Evidence-Based Practice to Reduce Recidivism: Implications for State Judiciaries. Crime and Justice Institute and the National Institute of Corrections, August 2007 Wermink, Hilder, Arjan Blokland, Paul Nieuwbeerta, Daniel Nagin, and Nikolas Tollenaar (2010) ―Comparing the Effects of Community Service and Short-Term Imprisonment on Recidivism: A Matched Samples Approach.‖ Journal of Experimental Criminology, 6, 325-349. Williams, Alisha, David C. May and Peter B. Wood, ―The Lesser of Two Evils? A Qualitative Study of Offenders‘ Preferences for Prison Compared to Alternatives,‖ Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 2008, 71-90. Wolff, Michael A. (November 2008). Evidence-Based Judicial Discretion: Promoting Public Safety through State Sentencing Reform. New York University Law Review, 83(5), p. 1395. 25 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G COMPLETE THIS PAGE Exercise: Sanction Policy Assessment 1 INSTRUCTIONS: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY This survey is designed to assess your notions about various sanction policies. Several situations are described in the questionnaire. Four alternative patterns of individual behavior or attitudes have been supplied as possible responses to each situation. Each of the four alternatives to each situation is slightly different from the other three. Therefore, read all four alternatives before answering so that you can select the alternatives most and least characteristic of you. There are no right or wrong answers. The best answers are those which are most descriptive of you or what you believe. Therefore, answer honestly, since only realistic answers will provide you with any useful information about yourself. DIRECTIONS: READ ALL FOUR ALTERNATIVES IN EACH QUESTION From among the four alternatives, select the one which is most characteristic of you. Place the letter (a, b, c, d) of that item on the scale immediately below each question at the point towards the Completely Agree end which best shows how much that item represents your point of view. Then, select the letter on the appropriate point towards the Completely Disagree end of the scale. Once you have found the most and least characteristic alternatives, enter the letters of the remaining alternatives within this range according to how characteristic each alternative is. For example, you might answer as follows: : d : : 10 9 Completely Agree : 8 : : 7 : 6 a :: 5 4 : b 2 3 : c : 1 Completely Disagree OR : : 10 Completely Agree b 9 8 : 7 : 1 Used with permission from the author: 6 : d : 5 c : 4 3 : : a 2 1 Completely Disagree Vincent O‘Leary, School of Criminal Justice, University of Albany, State University of New York 26 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K COMPLETE THIS PAGE S E N T E N C I N G 1. Officials are deciding whether a 20 year old youth convicted of assault and committed to a correctional institution should be released on parole. He has been in the institution for 36 months, which is 12 months longer than is typical for this type of offense. A marginal though acceptable release plan is now available; however, clinical staff believes there is a significant chance that he could commit another assault if released. In such a case, I would: a. Parole him since the offender has clearly served more time than is typically required for the type for offense that he has committed. b. Deny parole for now because of the continued risk this offender poses to the community. c. Parole him because of the existence of an acceptable release plan which may not be available when he is released later. d. Deny parole as a lesson to others that assault is a serious crime and will not be tolerated. : : : : : 10 9 8 Completely Agree : 7 6 : : 5 : 4 : : 3 2 1 Completely Disagree 2. A legislative committee is drafting a bill governing the operation of the State’s correctional institutions. They recognize that such institutions serve purposes but they want to give priority to one while recognizing the others. How should the following purposes of a correctional institution rank in terms of their importance? a. A place where offenders learn new attitudes and skills so that they will not commit crimes after their release. b. A place where offenders are securely held during the period of their sentence to ensure public safety. c. A place where offenders serve their sentences as an example to others of the punishment that will be imposed if they commit a similar crime. d. A place to which offenders are committed to pay the appropriate price for the crimes they commit. : : 10 9 8 Completely Agree : : 7 : 6 : 5 27 : : 4 : : 3 2 1 Completely Disagree : R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G COMPLETE THIS PAGE 3. A 19-year-old construction worker is convicted of vandalizing a community with several co-workers who had been drinking together, inflicting considerable damage in the process. In similar cases of this type, probation has been imposed. However, there have been a number of instances of serious vandalism recently and college authorities ask that a greater penalty be imposed to deter others. Restitution has been made by the young man’s parents, who blame their son’s behavior on bad companions. According to the probation department, an excellent placement is available in another community with concerned and dependable relatives. In such a case, I would: a. Place the young man in an institution for two months in addition to probation to curtail vandalism by others. b. Send the young man to his relatives to separate him from his companions and give him an opportunity to benefit from that placement. c. Impose probation, which is the usual penalty for this type of case. d. Place the young man under intense supervision in the community to ensure that he does not commit another offense : : : 10 9 8 Completely Agree : 7 : 6 : : 5 : 4 : : : 3 2 1 Completely Disagree 4. A youth with no prior record is charged with three house burglaries at night. He admits committing the offenses. Court staff has developed an excellent placement for him and request approval for diversion from official court processing, which is allowed by law. Such a step would avoid labeling the youth as a criminal, which would make placement for him more difficult. In such a case, I would: a. Deny the staff‘s request because such an offense deserves the imposition of the official penalty. b. Accept the staff‘s request for unofficial handling of this case in order to secure an excellent opportunity for the offender to learn law abiding behavior. c. Deny the staff‘s request because formal official action is needed to send a message to others that such behavior is unacceptable. d. Accept the staff‘s request since the youth is a first time offender and poses little risk to the community. : : 10 9 8 Completely Agree : : 7 : 6 : 5 28 : : 4 : : 3 2 1 Completely Disagree : R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G COMPLETE THIS PAGE 5. Two young men, one 16 years of age and the other 18, were apprehended after burglarizing several homes, including that of a widow. She was quite frightened when she found them in her home and slightly injured when they pushed past her to escape. Neither of the young men had a prior conviction. The 18-year old was tried as an adult, convicted and given six months jail and two years probation. The staff recommended two years probation for the 15-year old with no time in a detention center since he is a first offender and time in detention would cause him to associate with serious offenders and increase his self-definition as a delinquent. In such a case I would: a. Not require time in detention since the offender poses little risk to the public b. Require up to three months in detention since fairness requires at least some degree of similarity with the sentence of the co-defendant. c. Not require time in detention since it would be of little benefit to the young man and would likely affect his future behavior negatively. d. Require no less than 6 months in detention because of the need to deter others from preying on older people. : : : 10 9 8 Completely Agree : 7 : 6 : : 5 : 4 : : : 3 2 1 Completely Disagree 6. The information about a convicted person that is presented to the judge at the time of sentencing should focus on: a. The nature of the crime committed so that a punishment proportionate to the seriousness of that offense can be imposed. b. The criminal record of offenders and other reports that help identify how dangerous they are so they can be placed under appropriate control to protect the public. c. The views of officials and the public to determine what sentence is necessary to deter other persons from committing similar offenses. d. The mental and social character of the criminal offender so that programs can be required of them that will lesson the probability that they will commit crime when they are no longer under the state‘s control. : : 10 9 8 Completely Agree : : 7 : 6 : 5 29 : : 4 : : 3 2 1 Completely Disagree : R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K COMPLETE THIS PAGE S E N T E N C I N G 7. A 22-year old man convicted of check forgery for the third time has a clearly established drinking problem. He was committed to a community-based facility for 18 months and has competed 6 months of that term. He gave facility officials information that prevented a violent outbreak between members of two gangs and they are urging immediate release on parole as a reward for a type of behavior important to the effective operation of the facility. The man has completed 2 months of a 6-month alcohol treatment program which has shown some success with similar persons. While the program could be completed outside of an institution it will be much less effective. In this situation, I would: a. Refuse release to parole supervision because of the need to complete four months more of alcohol treatment before release. b. Release on parole because of the need to stop violence in the institution by encouraging offenders to give information to institutional officials. c. Deny parole because the original sentence was appropriate for the crime committed and it should not be cut by two thirds. d. Release on parole since the man can be given close supervision in the community and thus poses little risk to the public. : : : 10 9 8 Completely Agree : 7 : 6 : : 5 : 4 : : : 3 2 1 Completely Disagree 8. A businessman with a reputation for honesty is convicted of the illegal financial manipulation of several insurance companies that resulted in a gain of several million dollars for him. In such case, I would favor: a. A sentence of at least ten years in prison with no parole to warn other potential white collar criminals of the severe penalty that was imposed for this breach of public trust. b. Probation with a large fine, and several years of community service with the underprivileged to impress upon the offender how his behavior affected the lives of many unfortunate people. c. A sentence that would be the same as any other offender who violated a public trust which resulted in an illegal gain of large amounts of money. d. Some form of sentence in the community and fine since this person does not represent a threat to the public nor require the security of a costly prison cell. : : 10 9 8 Completely Agree : : 7 : 6 : 5 30 : : 4 : : 3 2 1 Completely Disagree : R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K COMPLETE THIS PAGE S E N T E N C I N G 9. After persons are convicted of serious crimes and sent to prison, should they be able to be released under parole supervision at any time less than the full term to which they were originally sentenced, less a small amount of time for good behavior in prison? a. Yes, since almost all offenders will be released, sometimes it is best that the time of release should be determined by trained professionals at the most favorable time and under circumstances that will promote future law abiding behavior on their part. b. No, the deserved penalty for the crime persons commit should determine how long they should serve in prison and the judge should make that decision at the time of sentencing. c. Yes, the dangerousness of a person should be the basis of deciding what kind of custody is needed at any time and that judgment can‘t be fully determined at the time of sentencing since much can be learned about offenders after sentencing. d. No, releasing a person from prison before he or she has served the full sentence undermines the deterrent effect of the law and encourages criminal behavior by others. : : 10 9 8 Completely Agree : : 7 : : 6 : 5 : 4 : : : 3 2 1 Completely Disagree 10. The amount of money that can be spent on research in criminology is limited. If you were on a panel distributing funding, what type of research should enjoy the highest priority? a. Research that would help us correctly identify those who are very likely to commit new crimes so that we could hold them in custody for a long period of time. b. Research that reveals what sentence length and type of penalties are most likely to stop others from committing new crimes. c. Research that will tell us what kind of treatment program–education, hard work, therapy-will work with specific offenders so that they will be less likely to commit crime when they are released. d. Research that will reflect how fair and equitable is our sentencing system in ensuring that criminals are similarly punished for the crimes they commit. : : : : : 10 9 8 7 Completely Agree 6 : 31 : 5 : 4 : : : 3 2 1 Completely Disagree R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G COMPLETE THIS PAGE Scoring Instructions Each of the four alternatives which were presented in every one of the questions in the Sanction Policy Assessment represented one of the justice sanctions – treatment, incapacitation, just deserts and deterrence. Where you placed the letter designating that alternative on the ten point scale determined how much weight you gave a specific policy as it was presented in a particular situation. To see how you weighted these alternatives, go back through the questionnaire and score it as instructed below. Step 1 – in the columns below, the letters for each of the alternatives presented in each question are shown. Over each letter (note they are not arranged in alphabetical order) insert the score you gave that particular alternative. The scores will be found below the lines on which the alternatives were placed in the questionnaire. Question Treatment Incapacitation Just Desserts Deterrence 1. ________ C ________ A ________ B ________ B ________ C ________ D ________ A ________ B ________ A ________ C ________ B ________ B ________ D ________ D _________ A ________ B ________ D ________ D ________ C ________ A ________ A ________ D ________ C ________ A ________ B ________ A ________ C ________ C ________ B ________ D ________ D ________ C ________ A ________ C ________ D ________ C ________ B ________ A ________ D ________ B 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Step 2 – Total each column 32 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Sentencing Choices Exercise: Case Scenarios Case 1: JIM2 Jim is an immature African American 19 year old high school graduate Has a wide variety of friends (some positive, some in trouble with the law) Wants to be everyone‘s friend; has a strong desire to please and has, on occasion, bought cigarettes and alcohol for his friends although he does not smoke or drink himself Jim‘s friends heard that a neighbor lady was out of town and had a large super-sized TV screen. They convinced Jim to help break into her house to play videos. While inside, a caretaker arrived and caught the boys in the home, pulled out a gun and confronted the boys, almost pulling the trigger. The youngest boy jumps through the glass pane window to escape. Jim was immediately caught. Because it was a first offense, the burglary charge changed to trespassing. Jim pled guilty. Jim‘s other life factors: o Parents were shocked and disappointed in his behavior o He experienced a lot of remorse and shame over his actions o He works at Best Buy and the manager has taken a liking to him and agreed to help him get through the court process and keep his job for him Prosecutor argues that even though it was a first offense, the crime was serious, a gun was drawn, someone could have been hurt, and the defendant made a series of bad choices. The prosecutor asks for: o Probation and maximum jail sentence (90 days) o 100 hours of community service o Restitution o Educational class on alcohol/drugs Defense counsel argues that this is his client‘s first conviction, felt remorse, has a lot going for him, and has learned his lesson. Defense asks for: o Probation but no jail o 50 hours of community service o Victim apology o Home detention for 15 days 2 © National Center for State Courts 33 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G COMPLETE THIS PAGE – YOU ARE USING JIM FROM ABOVE Vote on the following sentencing choices: 1. Prosecutor‘s recommendation 2. Defense attorney‘s recommendation 3. Probation, restitution, victim/offender dialogue, 20 hours of community service 4. Probation, alcohol evaluation & treatment, restitution, no contact order 5. 90 days jail, alcohol evaluation and treatment, restitution, no contact order Case 2: ALEX3 28 year old Native American male Has five felonies and 15 misdemeanor convictions as a juvenile and adult (for drinking offenses and assault) Has been in 14 different treatment or correctional institutions, successfully graduating from one He is one of the leaders of a Native American gang and is often called upon to execute ―justice‖ on rival gang members While at a local bar, Alex was accidentally bumped into by a patron and, without further provocation, Alex hit him from behind, knocking him unconscious The victim suffered some vision loss due to the assault Alex was charged with misdemeanor assault. Alex‘s other life factors: o Alex‘s father has been in prison twice as well as a number of uncles and cousins o He has no interest in changing his behavior and blames all of his troubles on racial bias o His only major stated goal in life is to get everyone off his back and live independently o He has no significant relationships (i.e., spouse or children) other than gang affiliation Prosecutor argues that Alex is hopelessly anti-social, has had enough chances, is gang affiliated, and severely hurt the victim. The prosecutor asks for: o Maximum jail allowed o Restitution o Electronic monitoring o Intensive probation 3 © National Center for State Courts 34 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G COMPLETE THIS PAGE – ALEX Defense counsel argues that Alex has had a hard life, is finally ready to change, and committed a minor offense. Defense asks for: o Probation o Substance abuse treatment o Restitution o Employment counseling Vote on the following sentencing choices: 1. Prosecutor‘s recommendation 2. Defense attorney‘s recommendation 3. Maximum jail time, restitution 4. Maximum jail, half suspended on condition of restitution payment, drug treatment, job assistance, and mentoring 5. Maximum jail, intensive probation, urinalysis Case 3: KYLE Kyle is age 40, married for 16 years Successful business man/high income Has four kids ages 8, 10, 16, and 17 Coaches kids‘ baseball and soccer teams Kyle and his wife argued over money She pushed him and he hit her repeatedly, causing a small laceration on her chin, a bruised cheek, and choke marks on her neck There have been numerous police calls and warnings There has been one prior arrest but no conviction There has been one prior restraining order The wife was hospitalized once before with broken bone (suspected abuse but never proven) Kyle‘s other life factors: o Kyle has been under a lot of work pressures lately o He witnessed his father abusing his mother when he was a child o He was assessed and determined to have a significant anger problem, poor coping skills, and a lot of anxiety 35 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G COMPLETE THIS PAGE – KYLE Prosecutor argues that although he has limited convictions, there are lots of signs of prior problems, fears for the victim safety despite her denial of serious problems. The prosecutor asks for: o Probation o 15 days jail o 10-week domestic violence class o No similar offenses Defense counsel argues that Kyle has no prior convictions, feels terrible about his actions, is under business pressure, and is willing to go to counseling. Defense asks for: o Probation o Psychological counseling o Domestic violence class Vote on the following sentencing choices: 1. Prosecutor‘s recommendation 2. Defense attorney‘s recommendation 3. Maximum jail with majority of jail suspended, two years probation, one year of domestic violence cognitive behavioral treatment, drug/alcohol evaluation, no contact with victim 4. Intensive probation, one year of domestic violence cognitive behavioral treatment, short term jail, quick response on violations, no contact with victim 5. Maximum jail with majority of jail suspended, one year of domestic violence cognitive behavioral treatment, mental health evaluation, no contact with victim Case 4: LYDIA4 Lydia is a 36 year old Caucasian female She has been in and out of substance abuse treatment most of her life She is growing tired of the lifestyle but feels hopeless in changing it After getting into a fight with her boyfriend, Lydia got drunk and ran into a car driven by a young man and his son She was convicted of drunk driving She has a number of prior offenses including two drunk driving charges, one felony drug possession, one felony forgery, and a misdemeanor assault She has been arrest-free for five years until this charge 4 © National Center for State Courts 36 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G COMPLETE THIS PAGE – LYDIA Lydia‘s other life factors: Lydia has a sixth grade education and cannot read or write well enough to get most jobs But, her goal is to become a nurse She has been in and out of jobs, never holding one for longer than four months She has a strong support system with her boyfriend of six years and her sister She has one child who is living in a foster home She has been diagnosed with depression and PTSD Her substance abuse allows her to forget an untreated sexual assault that occurred when she was fifteen Prosecutor argues that Lydia has had numerous prior convictions and has not learned. She could have seriously injured the victims. The prosecutor feels that treatment is a waste of resources and asks for: Probation Jail (maximum allowed) Restitution Defense counsel argues that Lydia had a slip up (having been crime free for five years), is in need of help, and has goals/wants to make further changes. Defense asks for: Probation Substance abuse treatment 50 hours community service at a children‘s hospital Employment counseling Vote on the following sentencing choices: Prosecutor‘s recommendation Defense attorney‘s recommendation Probation, short-term jail, long-term counseling, job/employment/education assistance, mentoring One year jail, five years probation, attend AA five times per week, ignition interlock, large fine Deferred prosecution 37 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G 3 Module How Do Research-Based Practices Ensure Effective Sentences to Reduce Recidivism? Prosecutors, defenders, judges, and community corrections officers all play critical roles in reducing the risk of re-offending, and through a systemic application of research-based practices can work to reduce recidivism. O ver the past several decades, a substantial body of knowledge has emerged about what works to reduce the risk of re-offending, and more recently, to help formerly incarcerated persons re-enter the community as productive citizens. Although the research focuses predominantly on what corrections and community corrections can do to change criminal behavior, this knowledge has direct relevance for prosecutors, defenders, the courts, and community corrections officers as part of a Smarter Sentencing process. As the gate keepers to the justice system, prosecutors have tremendous authority to charge a person with a criminal offense, to negotiate pleas, and to recommend sentences for convicted offenders. Defense attorneys advocate for their clients, preparing the best defense possible, negotiating plea offers on behalf of the client, and working to ensure the most appropriate outcome for their clients. Judges have the ultimate authority to accept pleas and sentence offenders. At each of these decision points, there is opportunity to use Research-Based Practices to increase the likelihood that the defendant/offender will not re-offend. Community corrections officers impose and recommend sanctions for violations of probation and parole. I C O N K E Y Learning objective Materials & resources Worksheets & exercises This module focuses on the basic principles of Research-Based Practice and explores its potential application to plea negotiations, sentencing, and revocation. It is designed to assist participants in understanding how they currently make sentencingrelated decisions and how research can improve the 38 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G quality of those decisions for both offenders and the public. It will provide an empirical basis for stakeholders to practice Smarter Sentencing in order to reduce their reliance on incarceration, to enhance the cost efficiency of criminal justice practice, and to provide offenders with the ability to lead law-abiding lives. Module 3 Learning Objectives This module is designed to help prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and community corrections officers explore the practical application of Research-Based Practices. At the end of this module, participants will be able to Define Research-Based Practices Identify core elements of Research-Based Practices Integrate Research-Based Practices with Smarter Sentencing Apply core elements of Research-Based Practices to the practice of Smarter Sentencing Rationale This module is designed to demonstrate how Research-Based Practice supports Smarter Sentencing by Making transparent the current basis of sentencing and revocation practices Applying research to sentencing-related decision making Providing empirical alternatives to incarceration as a means of managing offender risk Demonstrating effective and efficient ways to enhance public safety by working with offenders to change their criminal behavior and to reduce recidivism 39 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Basic Principles of Research-Based Practices and Sentencing There are several reasons to use research-based sentencing practices in local criminal justice jurisdictions: Given the current state of knowledge in the criminal justice and behavioral management fields, we can expect better outcomes than have been realized in the past. Better outcomes will be derived if sentencing processes are improved and existing resources (including non-incarcerative and incarcerative) are used more effectively. The U.S. justice system was framed around a set of core ideals. Researchbased decision making can assist in honoring and protecting these ideals through sentencing practices. Research-based Practices: A Definition Research-based Practice can be defined as ―a progressive, organizational use of direct, current scientific evidence to guide and inform efficient and effective criminal justice decision-making and the provision of correctional services.‖ Research-Based Practice is a core ingredient of Smarter Sentencing, seeking to enhance the quality of the professional judgment that stakeholders use every day in making determinations during the sentencing process. It is not the exclusive form of evidence to be used during the sentencing process, but up to now it has often been the most neglected and most overlooked. Standards of Research Evidence The Standards of Research pyramid provides the criteria for measuring the quality of social scientific research (see Figure 1). The most solid forms of evidence are Gold, which are randomized, replicated and controlled experimental studies, and Silver, which are quasi-experimental in nature. Bronze indicates studies that have produced significant results, have a scientific basis, but are weaker in methodological rigor. Only studies that can be classified as Gold, Silver or Bronze are accepted as part of Research-Based Practice. Studies that are Iron generally are considered non-scientific 40 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G in nature, and Dirt refers to research that is of the quality of Gold or Silver but has demonstrated conclusively that something does not work or even does harm. Two other types of evidence are commonly used in practice in criminal justice and corrections, but are not generally considered ―Research-based.‖ They are clinical or professional judgment and what is known as a ―promising practice,‖ a study or studies that provide useful information but are not experimental in design. Reducing Recidivism Researchers cite several reasons why offender recidivism rates have remained consistently high over the last thirty years: We are focusing on the wrong issues and the wrong sanctions (retribution, incarceration, deterrence) We are giving too much attention to the low risk and too little to the high risk offender Programs have not applied research knowledge nor are these practices applied with fidelity The system is not in alignment In fact, the primary reason that policy makers have come to care about ResearchBased Practice revolves around the issues of recidivism and victimization. They believe that the application of Research-Based Practices to the daily practice of criminal justice Improves outcomes, especially recidivism Reduces victimization Prevents harm Enhances collaboration Establishes research-driven decision making Targets funding toward the interventions that bring greatest returns 41 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Doing Good/ Doing Harm In the summer of 2005, the National Institute of Justice held its annual research conference on the topic ―Evidence-Based Policy and Practice.‖ The conference is attended by criminal justice policy makers, practitioners and researchers from across the county. At the opening plenary session, ―Evidence-Based Policies and Practices: Making the Case That Research Can Provide What Criminal Justice Policymakers Need,‖ a group of distinguished panelists argued that given the current state of knowledge about changing offender behavior, it was no longer acceptable for policy makers and practitioners to ignore this research in their daily practice. They contended that criminal justice professionals now had the moral obligation to ―do good‖ and to ―avoid harm‖ by using available research to make their decisions. From the perspective of these and other researchers at the conference, empirical data showed that ―doing good‖ reflected the following practices: All correctional treatment programs reduce recidivism on average by 10% Programs using cognitive-behavioral technologies reduce recidivism by 25-30% Programs incorporating interpersonal skills training, behavioral interventions, cognitive skills training, and mentoring reduce recidivism by 40% Programs employing functional family therapy, family empowerment, and multisystem therapy reduce recidivism by 60% Similarly, ―doing harm‖ reflected the following: Incarceration compared to probation increases recidivism on average 2% In the Denver youth study, arrests and sanctions resulted in persistence of or increase in delinquency The researchers were particularly concerned about practices and programs that consistently had no or harmful effects on recidivism and that resulted in a tremendous waste of public dollars. Using the results of a series of meta-analyses (―studies of studies‖) from over a twenty year period, they concluded that there was No effect size for intermediate sanctions, deterrence-based interventions, ―scared straight,‖ intensive supervision, arrest, restitution, boot camps, drug testing, electronic monitoring An increase in recidivism for the last six items, especially without a treatment component being present 42 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G What Works Programs with the following characteristics will tend to produce an average reduction of recidivism around 30%: Target criminogenic risk and need Cognitive/behavioral in nature Incorporate social-learning practices Balanced integrated approach to sanctions and interventions Incorporate the principle of responsivity Have therapeutic integrity What Doesn’t Work Types of programs that do not work generally do not target those individual and environmental factors that correlate with criminal behavior, do not have a behavioral and cognitive-behavioral treatment component, and do not integrate sanctions and personal accountability with skills-based behavioral change. Direct deterrence efforts Physical challenge programs Military models of discipline and physical fitness Intensive supervision without treatment Non-behavioral group counseling (without skills practice and behavioral reinforcement) Inmate-centered, non-directive therapy Approaches of non-skill education (didactic learning) Examples of non-behavioral approaches include Drug prevention classes focused on fear and other emotional appeals 43 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Shaming offenders Drug education programs (DARE) Non-directive, client centered approaches Bibliotherapy Freudian approaches Talking cures Self-Help programs Vague unstructured rehabilitation programs Medical model Fostering self-regard (self-esteem) ―Punishing smarter‖ (boot camps, Scared Straight) Summary of Benefits and Costs (2001 Dollars) Several recent cost-benefit analyses of research-based and non-research-based programs for adults and juveniles have demonstrated that the public gets much greater bang for the buck from the former rather than the latter. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy, a legislatively funded research and analysis organization, demonstrated in 2001 that behaviorally based programs had a significantly greater impact on recidivism than non-behavioral programs (see Figure 2). Although they might seem expensive in terms of each individual served, they were extremely successful in changing delinquent and offender behavior and averting new crimes with all their attendant victimization and criminal justice costs. In contrast, non-behavioral programs such as Scared Straight, which seem inexpensive to run, actually produce negative benefits for the taxpayer, as they tend either to have no effect on criminal behavior or actually make it worse. The Big Four Principles Four key elements must be in place for any organization successfully to implement Research-Based Practices, change offender behavior, and reduce recidivism. These four key principles are 44 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Principle 1: Risk. Research shows that use of validated actuarial instruments best predict the risk of re-offending. Assessments help identify appropriate supervision and treatment needs of offenders and their results should be considered in plea negotiations, sentencing recommendations, and sentencing. Supervision and treatment resources can then be prioritized for higher risk offenders. Principle 2: Need. Individual criminal behavior can be linked to a variety of individual and environmental factors, known as criminogenic needs. These needs include antisocial attitudes and values, anti-social peers, certain personality and temperament traits, family and relational factors, substance abuse, employment, school and occupational training, and the use of personal and leisure time. When these needs are addressed, especially the first four which are the most important, criminal behavior can change and recidivism reduced. Principle 3: Treatment/Responsivity. Treatment programs and services should be matched to individual characteristics, such as culture, gender, developmental stage, and learning style. Doing so has an impact on how well an offender responds to the treatment. Moreover, the treatment that is provided should be based on cognitive-behavioral and social learning practices that have been proven effective through rigorous study. Principle 4: Fidelity. Faithful application of treatment, based on offenders‘ criminogenic needs, can significantly reduce recidivism. Implementation of Research-Based Practices requires commitment to the principles of evaluation and a demonstration of progress through evaluation toward the essential outcome of diminished recidivism. The research of the last three decades boils down to four simple statements concerning what is most effective in changing offender behavior. These are Who you put in a program is important – pay attention to risk What you target is important – pay attention to criminogenic needs How you target offender for change is important – use behavioral and cognitivebehavioral approaches and match to offender type How well you implement is important – adhere to research-based program and intervention designs 45 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Research shows that the more practitioners adhere to the core principles of risk, need and responsivity, the greater the reduction in offender recidivism they achieve. Whereas implementing none of the principles may actually do harm and slightly increase reoffending, following all three produces average drops in recidivism of close to 30 percent (see Figure 3). Applying Research-Based Practices in Decision Making The Risk Principle: Actuarial Risk Assessment Risk is defined as the likelihood of reoffense, which could be seen as rearrest, reconviction, re-incarcerations or a combination of the three. Most validated risk instruments predict the possibility of rearrest. Whatever profession you are involved in, actuarial or statistical risk instruments always get the most accurate results and out predict professional judgment alone. In order to get the best results the tool that you use should be normalized and validated with respect to your target population. Most tools do not predict on the basis of the legal seriousness or high stakes nature of the instant offense, which research shows is not a factor correlated with risk of future criminal actions Some tools will predict risk of particular types of rearrest, such as violent crimes, sex crimes, or driving under the influence All actuarial tools predict results for groups of people and not for individuals. Even the best of instruments will have false positive and false negative results at the individual level. Criminal justice professionals are often skeptical about the use of actuarial risk instruments in their business. There is the notion among prosecutors, defenders, judges and community corrections staff that their experience will tell them who is at high risk of a new crime and who is not. The fact is that there is some truth to this feeling. While validated actuarial risk instruments will always outperform clinical judgment in predicting recidivism, the best results will occur when the information from the instruments are combined with professional scrutiny. But such scrutiny must not be allowed constantly to overrule statistical prediction, especially without justifiable cause. Research clearly underscores that criminal justice professionals, in terms of risk reduction, should 46 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Focus on medium and high risk offenders. Since they pose a significant risk of reoffense, they also pose the greatest threat to the community. We often are reluctant to follow this Research-based practice because we find these types of offenders difficult to deal with, unmotivated, and unresponsive to our authority Pay much less attention to low risk offenders. Involving them in programs and interventions will only make them worse and increase their average rate of recidivism. Yet we like to spend a lot of attention on them because they are easy to deal with, motivated, and responsive to our authority. Do risk control rather than risk reduction with the extreme high-risk population, which is about five percent of all offenders, at least until there is some sense that they are willing to respond. Although promising research is being conducted about treating them, it is still preliminary. The immediate risk management issue remains controlling these offenders. The risk principle helps criminal justice professionals do effective risk management with offenders throughout the sentencing and case management process, thereby reducing recidivism and improving public safety. What needs to occur is a researchbased, balanced approach to risk management of offenders Risk Elimination (Low Risk Offenders): involves providing least restrictive, most appropriate sanctions and supervision Risk Reduction (Moderate-High Risk Offenders): involves determining criminogenic needs and reducing risk factors through effective intervention and appropriate supervision Risk Control (Extreme High Risk Offenders): involves techniques that control risk of reoffending while under correctional authority The research-based principle of Risk Reduction can be summarized as follows: GET OUT OF THE WAY. Intensive treatment for lower-risk offenders can actually increase recidivism LIVE IN THEIR BACK POCKET. Provide most intensive control to extreme high-risk offenders ZERO IN. Target those medium and high-risk offenders with a greater probability of recidivism 47 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G The Need Principle: Criminogenic Needs Once the question of risk has been answered in terms of focusing resources and attention primarily on medium and high-risk offenders, the next question is, What about them as individuals and in their environment increases their risk of criminal activity? There are two types of risk factors: static and dynamic. Static factors are predictors of future criminal behavior which we cannot change. The most important are age, gender and criminal history. Dynamic risk factors are predictors of future criminal behavior which we can work with the offender to diminish and alter. These are called criminogenic needs (dynamic risk factors). Criminal justice practitioners need to focus on these criminogenic needs, which are identified using actuarial risk and need assessment tools. Criminogenic needs have the following characteristics: They are dynamic as opposed to static They are predictive They provide the ingredients for Smarter Sentencing and case intervention They can be measured over time to determine effectiveness of intervention If done correctly, they can drive major sentencing and correctional policy Research over the last three decades clearly shows that socio-economic status and issues of personal distress and pathology do not correlate with criminal risk, despite popular opinion. Thus being poor, being clinically depressed or having low selfesteem does not predict risk of recidivism. The most important factors pertain to belief and value patterns, the people that the offender associates with, familial relationships, and certain temperamental characteristics such as poor anger management and decision making ability as well as a lack of empathy for others. The Big Four Criminogenic Needs These four characteristics are the strongest correlates with criminal activity: Anti-social cognition Anti-social companions Anti-social personality or temperament 48 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G Poor family and/or marital relationships If the offender scores high on these needs in an assessment, they must be addressed before all other issues. They are what might be called the ―drivers‖ of criminal behavior. The one criminogenic need among the Big Four that is constantly misunderstood is anti-social personality or temperament. As mentioned above, criminal justice professionals have historically tended to focus on personality issues such as depression or lack of self-esteem that might be important for an offender‘s mental health, but whose amelioration will have little effect on recidivism. The most important anti-social temperament issues are Lack of empathy Anger and hostility Poor problem solving/decision making Risk taking Impulsive Lack of focus Narcissism The Lesser Four Criminogenic Needs The lesser four criminogenic needs are as follows: Substance abuse Un- or under-employment Poor performance or failure in school Poor use of leisure and/or recreational time While these four criminogenic needs are important elements in helping offenders to change their behavior, they are not as strong predictors as the Big Four. If the assessment of the client shows a high score on one or more of the Big Four criminogenic needs, they must be addressed along with any of these needs for lasting change to occur. 49 R E S E A R C H – B A S E D S M A R T E R P A R T I C I P A N T N O T E B O O K S E N T E N C I N G There is also a sequence for …
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