THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT SUPERVISION PRACTICES IN COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS - CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM

Can community corrections programs or probation reduce the incidence o f recidivism among offenders under supervision? This question continue s to be controversial. Some of the more recent research indicates, how ever, that recidivism is likely to be reduced by as much as fifty perc ent a certain supervision practices are adopted. This research has fou nd, among other things, that supervision characterised by a pro-social approach, the use of problem solving and the use of empathy, is relat ed to lower recidivism. This study looks at these factors in community based corrections in Victoria. It finds that where supervisors make u se of these supervision principles, client recidivism rates, as measur ed by breach rates and re-offending rates one year and four years afte r the start of supervision, are twenty five to fifty percent lower. Th e study also finds that the pro-social approach seems to have more imp act than the use of problem solving or empathy.