Describe the origin and evolution of intensive supervision probation in the United States

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The use of intensive supervision probation (ISP) began in California in the 1950s under the assumption that increased contact would improve rehabilitation efforts and provide a viable alternative to incarceration. The focus at that time was to determine the ideal number of probationers that one officer could effectively rehabilitate. Time spent by officers was not out in the field with counseling and treatment efforts, but time spent in writing reports and more detailed documentation in the office for the courts (Hanley, 2002). ISP continued to be used in limited jurisdictions, but was not fully implemented until three decades later when the concept re-emerged in the 1980s. This time, however, ISP was a way to keep tighter control on probationers and parolees and alleviate jail and prison crowding caused by abrupt changes in sentencing practices. Officers who supervised ISP clients had smaller caseloads to allow each officer greater contact in hopes that it would enhance public safety. Although smaller caseloads were found to provide increased surveillance and control, they also increased the detection of technical violations, which led to more clients returning to prison (Steiner, 2004). In fact, ISP recidivism rates were no different than rates for parolees using traditional supervision methods. When compared to regular probationers, ISP recidivism rates were higher (Brown, 2007). Critics pointed to a net-widening effect, particularly for those selected for ISP who were not necessarily chosen from a high-risk, high-need offender pool as originally purported and might only be medium risk or have medium-level needs (Reichel & Sudbrack, 1994).