How Smartphone Technology Can Link the Theoretical, Policy, and Practical Contexts of Community Supervision Reform: Voices from the Field

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this article is present how Smartphone technology can facilitate a model of community supervision that is based on a positive probation paradigm. As more scholars, policy makers, and practitioners call for a shift away from punitive supervision practices that have fueled mass incarceration over the last few decades, we argue that technology offers considerable promise in supporting this shift at the case management level. First, we describe the theoretical and policy directions that underpin our argument for adapting smartphone technology for this purpose followed by our blueprint of a positive probation case management system we refer to as a “BEACON” (Behavioral Economics Application with Correctional Opportunities Notifications) based case management system. We then present the results of interviews conducted with stakeholders in a Massachusetts jurisdiction to gauge their reactions to the BEACON case management model.

KEYWORDS:

• Community corrections
• technology
• addiction
• probation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. A Pew Research Center Report (Rainie & Perrin, 2017) indicated that 77% of adults in the US have a smartphone. The percent increased to 92% for those aged 18–29.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the The National Science Foundation [1737583].