Intermediate Sanctions and Drug Offenders

Date
1996
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Haverford College. Department of Political Science
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Award
Language
eng
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Haverford users only
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Abstract
The dramatic increase in the percentage of people in prison over the last fifteen years has led to the advent of a new trend in the correctional system. Intermediate sanctions, sanctions that fall somewhere along a continuum of punishments with prison on one end and probation on the other, have emerged as options for correctional officials looking to reduce overcrowding, reduce costs, and improve recidivism rates for offenders. One of the factors contributing to the overall increase of people incarcerated is the dramatic increase in the amount of drug offenders imprisoned over the last ten years. More people are engaging in illegal drug activity, and thus, more people are being sent to prison for their involvement in illegal drug activity. The amount of drug crime has not decreased as the percentage of people in prison has increased though. This alarming trend has caused correctional officials to become increasingly interested in any sanction which might reduce the numbers of drug offenders in prison. The evaluation of intermediate sanctions, specifically Intensive Supervision Probation, Electronic Monitoring, and Boot Camps, finds that each sanction has the potential to have a positive impact on the correctional system but not as currently employed. One theme that develops throughout the course of evaluation, though, is the fact that each sanction provides a framework which can be used to develop treatment for drug offenders. These sanctions enable correctional officers to maintain supervision of offenders, while offenders receive treatment for their addiction. Reducing the numbers of addicted offenders can reduce the amount of crime, thus decreasing the number of people in prison. Intermediate sanctions that contribute to the rehabilitation of offenders, contribute to the decrease in the amount of people in prison. Therein lies their value in the correctional system, and provides justification for their continual development.
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