Measuring recidivism rates of offenders on a community-based sanction using the probation services

Abstract

In response to doubts about community based sanctions, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of people who were sentenced to a community based sanction and/or are making use of the department of probation and parole. Most studies conducted in the past focus more on prison sentences and have greatly ignored community based sanctions which might include good effective strategies if carried out in an efficient manner. These strategies include: increased treatment participation, community service hours and educational programmes. Moreover this research expanded its main aims by evaluating specific variables and examine the risk factors which increase an offender’s probability of committing a second or more offences after being sentenced to a community based sanction and eventually become a recidivist.