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SENTENCING TO COMMUNITY SERVICE AND RESTITUTION

NCJ Number
60254
Journal
Criminal Justice Abstracts Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 435-468
Author(s)
A NEWTON
Date Published
1979
Length
34 pages
Annotation
BECAUSE IMPRISONMENT IS NEITHER SOCIALLY NOR ECONOMICALLY DESIRABLE FOR NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND RESTITUTION PROGRAMS OFFERING A RANGE OF ALTERNATIVE PENALTIES ARE NECESSARY.
Abstract
A NATIONWIDE SURVEY OF PRISON INMATES REVEALED THAT 68 PERCENT WERE EMPLOYED FULLTIME AT ARREST. SENTENCING THESE OFFENDER TYPES TO RESTITUTION CAN BE VERY BENEFICIAL. INSTITUTIONAL SENTENCES ALLOW OFFENDERS TO MAINTAIN THEIR EMPLOYMENT WHILE STILL MAKING REPARATION FOR THEIR OFFENSES, SAVING THEM FROM A MEANINGLESS AND CAREER-DESTROYING TERM OF INCARCERATION AND THE STATE FROM THE EXPENSE OF IMPRISONMENT. IN ADDITION, DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT WOULD BE AVOIDED, NORMAL OCCUPATIONAL PROGRESS AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS COULD BE CONTINUED, AND THE STATE WOULD NOT BE BURDENED WITH THE CARE OF THE OFFENDER'S FAMILY. BECAUSE MOST TASKS PERFORMED UNDER A COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDER ARE VOLUNTEER JOBS OR DIFFICULT-TO-FILL POSITIONS, OFFENDERS WOULD NOT TAKE WORK AWAY FROM NONOFFENDERS. FURTHERMORE, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND RESTITUTION PROGRAMS CAN EQUALIZE THE BURDEN PLACED UPON OFFENDERS OF VARYING ECONOMIC STATUS AND MAY TEACH OFFENDERS ADDITIONAL JOB SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITY, RESULTING IN THE END IN A CHANGE OF PUBLIC STEREOTYPES ABOUT CRIMINALS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IN GREAT BRITAIN, COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS HAVE BEEN USED TO STOP THE INCREASE IN PRISON POPULATIONS, WITH INCARCERATION BEING REPLACED BY 40 TO 240 HOURS OF UNPAID WORK WITH HANDICAPPED CHILDREN OR THE ELDERLY. RESTITUTION DISPOSITIONS ARE COMMON IN THE UNITED STATES FOR CRIMES INVOLVING PROPERTY LOSS. MONETARY PAYMENTS BY THE OFFENDER TO THE VICTIM HAVE BEEN ORDERED IN 109 OF 114 COURTS SURVEYED. SPECIFIC RESTITUTION AND SERVICES PROGRAMS ARE DESCRIBED. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)