Research Proposal

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 1

Success Rates of Traditional and Intensive Supervisors in Reducing Recidivism

John Doe

University Name

Sample Paper

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 2

Abstract

The purpose of this paper to suggest a research proposal describing the succes rates of

traditional and intensive supervison on reducing recidivism. A design plan was designed

suggesting the type of research method used, which is a mixed-method research, and the

strenghts and weaknesses it may bring; the variables, the independent(traditional and intensive)

and dependent(recidivism) variables included; the sample of what is being studied, how it is

being chosen and how many people are needed for the research to move forward; the statistical

analysis being used and a total of ten annotated references summarizing each work and

suggesting its importance to the research.

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 3

Introduction

The topic of this research is recidivism and what approach has been the most successful

in reducing it, there are two types of supervisions, traditional and intensive, that are used in the

criminal justice system that need to be tested for success rate and researched for understanding in

order to determine not only their worth, but their success rates in the reduction of recidivism.

Recidivism is the tendency to relapse into a behavior or a condition, such as criminal behavior

and the reason why this matter is important is because the cold hard facts and numbers suggest

that “nearly 650,000 people are released from the nation’s prisons every year, and about nine

million more are released from jails. Two-thirds of those who come out of prison are rearrested

within three years of release” (Dory, 2009). More than half of the people being released are

committing the same crimes that got them convicted in the first place or are committing even

more dangerous crimes, like murder. The community can’t afford these type of careless releases

because they will be the ones being victimized, their families and friends will be the ones facing

the dangers of becoming another statistic in a murder crime. The people being released are just

being thrown out into the community where they will not be accepted and where they will not fit

in, unless they are helped and supervised accordingly.

There are two types of supervisions being used, traditional and intensive, traditional

supervision consists of offenders under correctional control in the community that are given

either the minimal or regular type of supervision, which means they are required to report as

little if any to their correctional officers and intensive supervision consists of offenders under

correctional control in the community to report constantly, the requirements are more strict and

there are conditions that are placed on the offenders, such as “victim restitution, community

service, employment, random urine and alcohol testing, electronic monitoring, and payment of a

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 4

probation supervision fee. Intensive supervision programs vary in terms of the number and type

of contacts per month, case load size, type of surveillance conducted, and services offered”

(Probation and Parole: Supervision - Intensive Supervision, n.d.). It is obvious that intensive

supervision programs are more strict, but are they more successful and effective in reducing

recidivism.

The purpose of this research is to compare the success rates of traditional supervision and

intensive supervision and see which one is more successful at reducing recidivism because it is

not acceptable to have a correctional program that is not “correcting”, determining which type of

supervision is working more successfully at reducing recidivism is important because it could

help offenders find the right path and keep away from a life of crime, it helps our communities

stay safer and it helps give the correctional system more credibility and a method that works. The

research question is simple, which type of supervision, traditional or intensive has been able to

have the most success in reducing recidivism? Traditional supervision, is the simplest form of

supervision and has many holes, intensive supervision is in the name, it is a type of supervision

that is intense because of the way it is organized and because of the requirement of time and

effort that it takes from both the offender and the correctional officer, but does it really work

better than the traditional style, or does it provide the same success rate results.

Research Method

There are two types of supervisions being researched here, traditional and intensive, both

of these methods are a type of probation and the only matter separating them is the strictness,

seriousness and the amount of effort put into them. Intensive supervision requires a strict

supervision program that requires the offender to report daily to their correctional officer, and are

required to take on some conditions such as, getting and keeping a job, a place to live, paying a

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 5

fee for their probation, electronic monitoring and constant surveillance. Traditional supervision

is the simplest form of probation, where the offender reports on a minimal basis and are

surveillanced little to no amount of time and are only required to not get themselves thrown back

in prison. According to the research and based on the data collection done from previous

research on the same subject, my prediction is that the success rates of both traditional and

intensive supervision are practically the same when it comes to reducing recidivism and that the

only difference both supervisions have, is that the intensive program is more expensive and more

time consuming and even though, it may work on some juveniles and drug abusers, overall it

provides the same success rate as the traditional style of probation. In order to determine which

supervision, traditional or intensive has had the most success in reducing recidivism, a mixed-

method research approach will be made where the quantitative components included are the

collection of data that includes the number and percentage of times the offenders that have gone

through the traditional and intensive programs have failed and have committed a crime and have

been sent back to prison, and also the number of people sent to each program and the success

rate each has had with keeping them from falling back into old habits and a life of crime.

Questionnaires and surveys, from offenders who have been to either the traditional or intensive

supervision programs and have not been able to stay away from crime and those who have been

able to avoid it, will be handed out and collected and translated into numerical values in order to

determine a percentage of success. Documents and records of the number of offenders who have

been either in traditional or intensive probation and have not been back in prison or jail, will be

collected and analyzed. This type of data will help determine cold hard numbers and facts that

could be used to compare each different supervision and have a visual data collection that will

help determine success rates. The qualitative components of this research method will include

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 6

methods of data collections that contain in-depth interviews and observations with people who

have been able to stay away from crime and also interviews with those who have not, and ask

which program they were inserted in and if they feel the program failed them and why. This type

of data will help to understand the experiences the offenders had with the programs and will also

help with understanding the processes of traditional and intensive supervision, and maybe then

the answers to why they succeeded or failed will be recognized.

Variables

The independent variable in this research are the two type of supervisions, traditional and

intensive, these variables will be measured by considering the amount of offenders sent to each

individual program, the type of crime they committed, their age, race, gender and the

correctional officer given. These are factors that need to be considered and determined when

trying to measure the success rate of each supervision in reducing recidivism, because traditional

supervision is usually given to offenders who have committed small crimes and are not seen as

huge of a threat therefore, do not need or require a high amount of supervision and intensive

supervision is usually given as a substitute for prison to offenders who have committed more

serious crimes and are sent to this type of probation because they may be better off there than in

prison and sometimes they are even sent to this program to avoid prison overcrowding. These

factors are constantly changing so the way these independent variables will be measured is by

seeing how each program deals with these different factors and circumstances and how they deal

with the same factors and circumstances and consider the number and percentage of time each

have been able to keep their respective offender out committing the same crime and getting send

back to jail or prison. This will also help determine whether it is a financially smart idea to keep

funding and using the expensive intensive programs, if it is doing equal numbers to the

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 7

traditional style of supervision. The dependent variable here is the recidivism and its reduction

success rate, the way this variable would be measured is dependent on the results of each

supervision but, the goal is to find which supervision is able to provide the higher success rate

which means, the success rate of recidivism will be measured by how low it is because the lower

the number, the higher the success rate because this will mean that the supervision, whether it is

traditional or intensive, was able to keep the offenders away from crime and was able to keep

offenders from falling back into old habits that resulted in criminal behavior.

Sample

The sample and the focus of this research and study are traditional supervision and

intensive supervision methods of probation and the offenders who have participated in them

because the purpose is to compare the success they have been able to bring to offenders and the

reduction of recidivism and determine which is better. In order to make that determination, an

important part of the research requires to acquire data involving the experiences offenders have

had with the supervision methods, so the sampling method that will be used in this research is

systematic sampling, in which offenders that have participated in traditional and intensive

supervision methods will be interviewed and the way they will be chosen is by finding 50

offenders that have taken each individual program and systematically choose 10 to 15 of them

and get their opinions and experiences on how the supervision is and if it has helped them think

twice about their life of crime, this way not only is the observation made and recorded, but

considering how costly it is to obtain quantitative data, reducing the number of people being

interviewed to a smaller quantity will help obtain the necessary data needed without having to

spend too much and the determination of whether traditional or intensive supervision have

worked in reducing recidivism, will not be compromised.

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 8

Strengths and Weaknesses of Mixed-Method Research

The mixed-method research technique has its strengths and weaknesses, its strengths

consists of:

[…] focusing on research questions that call for real-life contextual understandings,

multi-level perspectives, and cultural influences; employing rigorous quantitative

research assessing magnitude and frequency of constructs and rigorous qualitative

research exploring the meaning and understanding of constructs; utilizing multiple

methods (e.g., intervention trials and in-depth interviews); intentionally integrating or

combining these methods to draw on the strengths of each; and framing the investigation

within philosophical and theoretical positions. (The Nature and Design of Mixed

Methods Research, n.d.)

Mixed-method research theory provides the researcher with the opportunity to integrate a variety

of perspectives, in this case traditional and intensive supervision. Mixed-method research also

involves the intentional collection of qualitative and quantitative data and combining their

individual strengths in order to answer a research question. Some of the weaknesses or issues

that may arise from using the mixed-method research technique consists of sometimes having

problems with resources due to the multiple forms of data being collected, the amount of time

required to carry out the steps involved may sometimes be too vast and the resources may not

always be available. Another issue with mixed-method research is that in “sequential designs

(i.e., one phase of qualitative research builds on the quantitative phase or vice versa), the issues

relate to deciding what results from the first phase to use in the follow-up phase, choosing

samples and estimating reasonable sample sizes for both phases, and interpreting results from

both phases” (The Nature and Design of Mixed Methods Research, n.d.). The data chosen for

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 9

this research also has its strengths and weaknesses, its strengths consists of having a different

variety of variables that could affect the research and results of the study because, different

variable such as, the type of crime the offender committed, their age, race, gender and

correctional officer given are being considered as factors as to why or why not a type of

supervision has succeeded or failed and interviews are being done, so the opinions and

experiences are coming straight out of the subject’s mouth. One weakness that this data may

have is that region or states are not being considered as a factor that may or may not determine

whether traditional or intensive supervision have been successful in reducing recidivism, there

are other factors such as, family history or previous financial status that are not being considered,

that could be important factors. The data collected is selective and only general factors are being

considered and measured in this study.

Statistical Analysis

The type of analysis that will be used to describe this research will be descriptive

statistics by describing what the data collected shows about the percentage or number of

offenders that participated in traditional and intensive supervision and how successful those

programs were at reducing recidivism. “Descriptive Statistics are used to present quantitative

descriptions in a manageable form. In a research study we may have lots of measures. Or we

may measure a large number of people on any measure. Descriptive statistics help us to simply

large amounts of data in a sensible way. Each descriptive statistic reduces lots of data into a

simpler summary” (Descriptive Statistics, n.d.). Another type of analysis that will be used in this

research is correlation analysis were the relationship between the independent

variable(supervisions) and the dependent variable(recidivism) will be measured and the value

that results will be checked for changes depending on whether modifying either variable will

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 10

result in any change to the other variable, in this case, whether modifying the supervisions will

result in a higher or lower recidivism. Considering this research has two independent variables,

using regression analysis would be one of the most effective ways in predicting the dependent

variable, because using regression analysis will help predict the reduction of recidivism from

both traditional and intensive supervision.

Annotated References

1. Byrne, J. M., Lurigio, A. J., & Baird, C. (1989). The Effectiveness of the New Intensive

Supervision Program. Research In Corrections, 21-27.

This article writes on the importance of conducting research on a new improved way of

probation and with the addition of intensive supervision to the mix an evaluation is being done

on whether the program is working in states that implemented it, like Georgia and New Jersey.

The evidence collected shows that intensive program probationers pose no more of a threat than

regular probationers. This article supports the idea that intensive and traditional supervisions,

essentially put out the same success rate when it comes to reducing recidivism.

2. Clark-Miller, J., & Stevens, K. D. (n.d.). Effective Supervision Strategies: Do Frequent

Changes of Supervision Officers Affect Probationer Outcomes? Federal Probation,

Volume 75 Number 3.

This article writes on the effect correctional officers, prior criminal history and social history

have on the success or failure of an offender in completing either the intensive or traditional

program, this article also highlights the fact that intensive supervision is more likely to fail due to

its strictness, and the fact that the offender’s every move is being monitored and recorded, there

every action, whether criminal or not is being more exposed. This article supports the idea that

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 11

prior criminal, correctional officer given and social history do have an effect on whether an

offender gains from the different types of supervisions and it also supports the idea that,

eventhough intensive supervision is more strict and detailed, it is also more likely to fail for

those same reasons.

3. Crews, M. D. (2001). Factors Affecting Recidivism Rates. Retrieved from

http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/recidivism/2001/factors.html#Ccrace

This article highlights in the form of percentages and numbers the effect different factors such as

age group, prior recidivism, gender, race, education and offense type have on recidivism rates

and moet of this factors do have a major impact such as age and offense type. This article

support the idea that recidivism rates are affected by age, gender, race and offense type.

4. Gleicher, L., Manchak, S. M., & Cullen, F. T. (n.d.). Creating a Supervision Tool Kit: How to

Improve Probation and Parole. Federal Probation, Volume 77 Number 1.

This article writes about the shift made from traditional supervision to intensive supervision, due

to the poor results traditional supervision was giving. The idea was that if offenders were heavily

supervised they would be more likey to deter from committing crimes, but the experiment

seemed to have failed because eventhough survaillance increased, recidivism success rate stayed

the same as the traditional method of supervision, there really was no major change. This article

supports the importance of finding an alternative to traditional supervision, but the suggested

intensive supervision did not do better or gave more positive results when it came to reducing

recidivism.

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 12

5. Griffiths, C. T., Dandurand , Y., & Murdoch, D. (2007). The Social Reintegration of Offenders

and Crime Prevention. Retrieved from

http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/scl-rntgrtn/index-eng.aspx

This article writes on the difficulties offenders face when trying to reintegrate themselves back

inot society and factors such as race, education and age are being taken into consideration. It also

writes on what works for offenders to help reduce recidivism and eventhough intensive programs

may fail with low-risk offenders they have been able to help high-risk and young offenders more.

This article supports the idea that age is a determinant on whether or not intensive supervision

works.

6. Kittle, R. (2014). Intensive Supervision Program Drastically Reducing Repeat Crimes.

Retrieved from http://www.wltx.com/story/news/local/2014/05/23/program-crimes-

repeat-/9513671/

This article examines the affect intensive programs have on youthful offenders, and the results

show that it does have a greater effect on them, so much that recidivism in Columbia, South

Carolina has been reduced from 57 percent to 4.7 percent. The only problem is that it is too

costly to successfully implement more of it. This article supports the idea that age does make a

difference on how successful the intensive program is and that it is a program that best fits

youthful offenders.

7. Mixed Effectiveness in Controlling Crime. (1993). Retrieved from

http://www.gao.gov/products/PEMD-93-4

This article highlights a study made in Arizona where the result show that intensive programs

have failed to reduce recidivism in all types of groups except younger offenders. Intensive

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 13

supervision in older offenders regardless of education, race or gender, the program showed

higher percentages of arrest than the traditional supervision style, and only succeding when

offenders were under the intensive program and failing when they were out. This article is

important because it demonstrates and supports the idea that intensive supervision may not be

worth implementing, other than on young offenders.

8. Probation and Parole: Supervision - Intensive Supervision. (n.d., pgh. 1). Retrieved from

http://law.jrank.org/pages/1842/Probation-Parole-Supervision-Intensive-supervision.html

This aricle highlights the failed attempt to make intensive supervision a prison alternative,

because it has failed to reduce prison overcrowding like it was expected to and it has proved to

not show any significant difference in reducing recidivism from traditional supervision. This

article supports the idea that traditional and intensive supervision both give out the same results

when it come to reducing recidivism.

9. Reilly, M. (2008). Study: Intensive parole supervision reduces recidivism among violent

criminals. Retrieved from

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/study_intensive_parole_supervi.html

This article highlights a four-year study done by Rutgers University, that reads that intensive

supervision has helped to reduce high risk offenders’ recidivism rate. This article supports the

idea that they type of crime committed does have an affect on recidivism and on the success rate

of intensive programs.

10. Trotter, C. (n.d.). Reducing Recidivism Through Probation Supervision: What We Know and

Don’t Know From Four Decades of Research. Federal Probation, Volume 77 Number 2.

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 14

This article examines eight different research approaches to the affect a correctional officer may

have on the success or failure of an offender may have in completing a program, the results

proved that seven out of the eight researches done agreed that the correctional officer may be the

one factor in determining whether recidivism is lowered or not. This article is important because

it supports the idea that correctional officers play a role in determining whether traditional or

intensive programs work.

Running Head: REDUCING RECIDIVISM THROUGH SUPERVISIONS 15

References

Descriptive Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/statdesc.php

Dory, C. (2009). Society Must Address Recidivism, Officials Say. Retrieved from

https://news.usc.edu/30029/Society-Must-Address-Recidivism-Officials-Say/

Probation and Parole: Supervision - Intensive Supervision. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://law.jrank.org/pages/1842/Probation-Parole-Supervision-Intensive-supervision.html

The Nature and Design of Mixed Methods Research. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://obssr.od.nih.gov/scientific_areas/methodology/mixed_methods_research/section2.a

spx#What is mixed methods research