Effectiveness of Halfway Houses vs. Electronic Monitoring
Effectiveness of Halfway Houses vs. Electronic Monitoring
Introduction
Halfway houses and electronic monitoring are two methods used by probation or parole officers to allow offenders to enter back in to the community in different ways. Each option for officers offers a different way of supervision which allows for offenders to enter back into the community while still being monitored. In this paper I am going to explain how both halfway houses and electronic monitoring work and how they each are effective. Also I am going to discuss which one if any is better than the other. Some topics will include cost effectiveness and reducing recidivism. To conclude I have an officers input on which one he believes to be better and a summary of both methods using studies on the topics.
Halfway Houses “Halfway houses are another way to ease crowding prisons while providing close community supervision during their transition from institutionalization to freedom” (Klein-Saffran). These are also known as Residential Reentry Centers. They serve as a home to offenders who are released from prison until they are ruled safe enough to live on their own again. Halfway houses are all different and have different rules depending on what offenders are there and where the halfway house is located. Also depending on whether they provide treatment to offenders and have 24 hour supervision. A halfway house in Georgia has certain criteria that an offender has to meet in order to be let in. This criterion includes:
1. Be one who would otherwise be incarcerated
2. Be a nonviolent property offender
3. Not be regarded as a habitual criminal
4. Be capable of maintaining employment
(Abadinsky)
These guidelines are usually present in most houses. Most criminals who commit crimes such as murder or rape are not allowed to be put in halfway houses due to their threat to society. Also the offender must be able to hold a job because they have to pay to be stay in the house, if they are
Introduction
Halfway houses and electronic monitoring are two methods used by probation or parole officers to allow offenders to enter back in to the community in different ways. Each option for officers offers a different way of supervision which allows for offenders to enter back into the community while still being monitored. In this paper I am going to explain how both halfway houses and electronic monitoring work and how they each are effective. Also I am going to discuss which one if any is better than the other. Some topics will include cost effectiveness and reducing recidivism. To conclude I have an officers input on which one he believes to be better and a summary of both methods using studies on the topics.
Halfway Houses “Halfway houses are another way to ease crowding prisons while providing close community supervision during their transition from institutionalization to freedom” (Klein-Saffran). These are also known as Residential Reentry Centers. They serve as a home to offenders who are released from prison until they are ruled safe enough to live on their own again. Halfway houses are all different and have different rules depending on what offenders are there and where the halfway house is located. Also depending on whether they provide treatment to offenders and have 24 hour supervision. A halfway house in Georgia has certain criteria that an offender has to meet in order to be let in. This criterion includes:
1. Be one who would otherwise be incarcerated
2. Be a nonviolent property offender
3. Not be regarded as a habitual criminal
4. Be capable of maintaining employment
(Abadinsky)
These guidelines are usually present in most houses. Most criminals who commit crimes such as murder or rape are not allowed to be put in halfway houses due to their threat to society. Also the offender must be able to hold a job because they have to pay to be stay in the house, if they are
Cited: Abadinsky, Howard. Probation and Parole: Theory and Practice. Tenth Editon. Prentice Hall, 2009. Print. Beck, James L. Survey on The Effectiveness Of The Comprehensive Sanctions Center. Office of Research, Federal Bureau of Prisons (DC) Keeran, Holly. Federal Halfway House Rules. Journal News. Klein-Saffran, Jody. Electronic Monitoring vs. Halfway Houses: A Study of Federal Offenders. University of Maryland. Federal Bureau of Prisons. Sweigart, Josh. Study: Halfway house ineffective. Hamilton Journal-News. Hamilton, Ohio. Copyright 2011.