Intensive Probation and Parole

TLDR

Intensive supervision programs have expanded over the past decade, focusing on reduced caseloads, close surveillance, urinalysis testing, treatment, and employment. The study aims to justify continued development and testing of ISP programs as part of a graduated sentencing system. A RAND randomized field experiment evaluated a national ISP demonstration across fourteen jurisdictions in nine states. ISP implementation was strong in officer contacts and drug testing but failed to boost treatment participation; it did not reduce new arrests, increased technical violations and jail terms, and raised incarceration rates and program costs compared to routine supervision.

Abstract

Intensive supervision programs (ISP) have proliferated in the past decade. They generally emphasize reduced caseloads, close surveillance, urinalysis testing, treatment, and employment. The RAND Corporation, in a randomized field experiment, evaluated a national ISP demonstration project in fourteen jurisdictions in nine states. The programs were implemented well, particularly with respect to probation and parole officers' contacts and drug testing but were less successful at increasing treatment participation. Intensive supervision probation did not decrease the frequency or seriousness of new arrests but did increase the incidence of technical violations and jail terms. Stepped-up surveillance and frequent drug tests increased incarceration rates and drove up program and court costs compared with routine supervision. Development of an array of sentencing options to create a graduated sentencing system should justify continued development and testing of ISP programs.