The effectiveness of felony probation: Results from an eastern state

Data from New Jersey were used to examine the effectiveness of felony probation. Examination of more than 2,000 burglars, robbers, and controlled substance offenders placed on probation in 1976–1977 showed that their recidivism at three, four, and approximately 10 years after sentencing ranged from approximately one-third to more than half arrested and about 10 percent imprisoned. Prior convictions, type of offense, age, race, the Greenwood prediction device, use of heroin, and employment were statistically significant correlates of recidivism. The major conclusion is that probation is an acceptable sentencing alternative for some felony offenders in some states but that recidivism rates can be alarmingly high for particular categories of offenders. In addition, probation officials should devote some attention to the needs of probationers in such problem areas as employment and drug abuse.

An earlier version of this report was presented at the 1989 annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, held in Reno. The author wishes to thank three anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions. The data used in this manuscript were made available by the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. The data for the New Jersey study were collected originally by Jack McCarthy, D. Randall Smith, and William R. Smith. Neither the collector of the original data nor the Consortium bears any responsibility for the analyses or interpretations presented here.

An earlier version of this report was presented at the 1989 annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, held in Reno. The author wishes to thank three anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions. The data used in this manuscript were made available by the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. The data for the New Jersey study were collected originally by Jack McCarthy, D. Randall Smith, and William R. Smith. Neither the collector of the original data nor the Consortium bears any responsibility for the analyses or interpretations presented here.

Notes

An earlier version of this report was presented at the 1989 annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, held in Reno. The author wishes to thank three anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions. The data used in this manuscript were made available by the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. The data for the New Jersey study were collected originally by Jack McCarthy, D. Randall Smith, and William R. Smith. Neither the collector of the original data nor the Consortium bears any responsibility for the analyses or interpretations presented here.