Chapter 9
Nonresidential Community
Supervision Programs
Intensive Supervision and
Specialized Caseloads
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Intensive supervision probation/parole (ISP) is an
enhanced form of supervision that subjects offenders
to closer surveillance, more conditions, and more
treatment exposure than regular probationers and
parolees..
ISP was designed for high-risk, high-need offenders
who were released from prison or those offenders
who needed a more intensive community sentence in
lieu of prison.
LO: 1
Specialized Caseloads
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ISP is also known today as specialized
caseloads.
Specialized caseloads are a supervision strategy
for specific types of high-risk offenders such as
sex offenders and known gang members.
LO: 1
History of ISP
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The use of ISP began in California in the 1950s
under the assumption that increased contact
would improve rehabilitation efforts and
provide a viable alternative to incarceration.
The focus at that time was to determine the
ideal number of probationers that one officer
could effectively rehabilitate.
LO: 1
Emergence of Contemporary ISP
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ISP re-emerged in the 1980s.
This time, however, ISP was a way to keep
tighter control on probationers and parolees and
alleviate jail and prison crowding caused by
abrupt changes in sentencing practices.
Officers who supervised ISP clients had smaller
caseloads.
LO: 1
Evaluations of ISP
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The costs of ISP programs are definitely greater
than regular probation, but the key to cost
savings lies in whether ISP can produce a cost
savings over those destined for prison.
Most evaluation studies have shown that ISP, as
currently administered, is not cost effective.
LO: 1
Changes in ISP Model
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Combine intensive supervision with intensive forms
of cognitive-behavioral treatment to significantly
lower recidivism.
Choose high-risk offenders as opposed to low-risk
offenders for ISP.
There must be clear guidelines that treat change as a
process and allow for a certain degree of
noncompliance to allow offenders (especially ones
who are not dangerous) to complete the program.
LO: 1
Evaluations of ISP
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The costs of ISP programs are definitely greater
than regular probation, but the key to cost
savings lies in whether ISP can produce a cost
savings over those destined for prison.
Most evaluation studies have shown that ISP, as
currently administered, is not cost effective.
Technical violations that sent ISP offenders to
prison doubled the actual cost of ISP.
LO: 3
Moving to Specialized Caseloads
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The method by which cases are initially
assigned to an officer’s caseload has been
integral to further success.
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Cases are assigned based on offense type first
Then based on geographic zip code.
This allows officers to become true experts in
both supervision and treatment for this
particular type of client.
LO: 2
House Arrest
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House arrest is an intermediate sanction designed to
confine pretrial detainees or convicted offenders to
their homes during the hours when they are not at
work, attending a treatment program, or visiting a
supervising officer.
For convicted offenders, house arrest is typically
either a condition of ISP or is coupled with electronic
monitoring.
LO: 2
Purposes of Home Detention
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House arrest is otherwise known as home detention or home
confinement; it is neither a new concept nor a U.S.
innovation.
Galileo (1564–1642) was placed under house arrest by church
authorities for his heretical assertion that the earth revolved
around the sun.
It was used in the 1980s as an alternative to incarceration for
pretrial detainees and a means of easing jail overcrowding
while ensuring appearance in court.
LO: 2
Criticisms of House Arrest
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2.
3.
It does not seem to be a punishment.
The intrusiveness of house arrest violates a
pretrial detainee’s constitutional right to
privacy in the home, especially one occupied
by other family members.
Offenders can still commit crimes from their
house.
LO: 1
Effectiveness of House Arrest
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Offenders on house arrest are twice as likely as regular parolees
to have their parole revoked for a technical violation
Failure rates and absconding rates compared with other pretrial
programs for state offenders, are similar.
On a positive note, house arrest allows pretrial defendants the
chance to keep working and supporting their families without
interruption caused by incarceration.
LO: 2
Electronic Monitoring
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Electronic monitoring (EM) is a correctional
technology used in intensive supervision
probation, specialized parole, day reporting
centers, and house arrest.
EM can also be used for defendants who have
not yet been convicted but require an elevated
level of supervision while out on bond or
pretrial supervision.
LO: 2
History of Electronic Monitoring
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Robert Schwitzgebel at the University of California
developed electronic monitoring technology in the
1960s during the deinstitutionalization movement of
the mentally ill.
The idea for use of EM devices in the criminal
justice system was inspired by New Mexico judge
Jack Love, who saw how the comic book character
Spiderman was tracked by a wrist transmitter.
LO: 1
Problems with Early EM
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Early electronic monitoring programs required that
offenders had a landline telephone.
Critics asserted this discriminated against indigent
offenders who could not afford it.
Home-bound EM systems were not able to track
where offenders went once they left their home.
There was no guarantee that the probation office was
actually communicating with the “correct” person.
LO: 3
EM Expenses
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A single home-based EM transmitter and
receiver system costs $50,000 for the equipment
plus operating costs.
Offenders help subsidize the operating costs by
paying a monthly fee of $10 per day. The cost
effectiveness of electronic monitoring depends
on the custody level of the comparison group
and how revocations are handled.
LO: 3
Global Positioning Systems
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GPS uses 24 military satellites that orbit the
earth and 5 ground control stations to pinpoint
locations anywhere in the world using data
coordinates.
Offenders wear a permanent ankle bracelet, and
they also carry a GPS receiver containing a
microprocessor and antennae and a battery
charging unit.
LO: 1
Active and Passive
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Active GPS systems transmit the data through
wireless networks like a cell phone. Active systems
are also known as real-time units, because data can
be transmitted often with a short lag time.
In a passive GPS system, the daytime tracking data
is temporarily stored and downloaded at night
through a land-line phone while the offender is
sleeping.
LO: 1
GPS Zones
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The microprocessor inside the receiver also
allows the probation officer to use software to
program in exclusion zones and/or inclusion
zones.
An exclusion zone would be the residence and
workplace of an identified victim.
An inclusion zone would be the offender’s
place of employment or school.
LO: 2
Costs of GPS
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The primary drawback is cost.
Real-time active GPS systems cost $10-$16 for
the equipment, while passive GPS costs $5 per
day.
It is still less expensive than building new
facilities.
LO: 3
Day Reporting Centers
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Day reporting centers (DRCs) are a type of
outpatient program based on a 3 phase levels
system where offenders report daily for a
variety of treatment programs, itinerary, and
random drug testing.
Day reporting centers are like a “one-stop shop”
with all the resources and educational programs
in one place.
LO: 2
DRCs
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Day centers have been popular in England and
Wales since the 1970s and began to appear in
the United States in 1985.
Connecticut and Massachusetts were among the
first states to adopt day reporting centers.
Most DRC programs exist in states that do not
have ISP as a sentencing option.
LO: 2
Treatment v. Supervision DRCs
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Treatment-oriented DRCs provide a wide range of services all
on an outpatient basis. The most common services were jobseeking skills/job placement, drug abuse education/treatment,
psychological counseling, life skills training, and GED
education classes/literacy.
Supervision-oriented DRCs ensure that clients are abiding the
rules, ensure accountability through itineraries, and keep them
busy so they do not have the time or opportunity to engage in
criminal activity.
LO: 2