Describe the various ways in which IPS programs are used and their effectiveness.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

IPS programs are used in several ways. In some states IPS is a direct sentence imposed by a judge and in others it is a post-sentencing alternative used to divert offenders from the correctional system. IPS is also used as a case management tool to give local staff the flexibility in dealing with and planning for clients. In addition, some jurisdictions use IPS in all three ways in addition to applying it to probation violators to bring them halfway back into the community without resorting to a prison term. It should come as no surprise that IPS clients have a high rate of failure because they may be more serious criminals who might otherwise have been incarcerated. That said, IPS seems to work better for those with good employment records and when it is combined with particular treatment modalities such as cognitive behavioral treatment, which stresses such life skills as problem solving, social skills, negotiation skills, management of emotion, and values enhancement.