Exam 10: Corrections in the Community: Alternatives to Confinement

Convicted offenders who receive a term of incarceration of exactly two years (which places them under the authority of the federal corrections system) can also receive a sentence of probation of up to three years.

What is the situation regarding the recruitment and training of probation officers in Canada?

Chantal was arrested for mischief. She is a first-time offender, and the officer has decided not to formally charge her but rather to send her to a diversion program. While he has her best interests in mind, the officer also knows that he does not have enough evidence to proceed with formal criminal charges. What do this officer's actions exemplify?

The primary purpose of conditional sentences is to provide effective community treatment and support.

What does the "dual role" of probation officers entail? Why might this be problematic in terms of providing support to probationers? Provide examples to support your assertions.

Darrell is an offender who is being assessed by his probation officer. She notes that he is very likely to recidivate, and therefore will need more support than other probationers on her caseload. Which principle is the probation officer applying in her assessment?

What are the differences between the pains of probation and the pains of imprisonment? Why do you think these differences exist? Which pains do you believe are more severe? Why?

Which principle of effective correctional treatment identifies the importance of matching treatment interventions to the learning styles and abilities of individual inmates?

Identify the seven different uses of probation in the Canadian criminal justice system. Which of these uses is the most common?

Intermediate sanctions are also known as community sanctions.

Which of the following is NOT an activity or task completed by probation officers?

Matthias is an offender who is being assessed by his probation officer. She notes that Matthias has attention deficit disorder (ADD) and that this needs to be taken into account in his treatment and services. Which principle is the probation officer applying in her assessment?

Identify the three situations or sentences in which an adult offender must be on probation.

Intensive supervision probation (ISP) is used primarily with special categories of adult offenders.

Consider electronic monitoring as an alternative to confinement by: a) identifying the goals of EM programs; b) discussing the issues that surround its use; c) discussing its use in Canada.

Discuss the use of, and controversy surrounding, conditional sentences. There have been efforts to prohibit the use of conditional sentences in cases involving violence. What are your views on the use of conditional sentences and what, if any, restrictions should be placed on this sentencing option?

Which of the following is NOT a major objective of diversion programs?

Rory committed a property crime and has been ordered to pay a fine to the victim. Which type of response is this?

A recent trend in probation has been for offices to have units with specially trained officers to deal with special categories of offenders. Which types of offenders are likely to be on caseloads like this? What does research show about these specialized units? Do you agree with this trend? Why or why not?

Research in the United States has shown that some offenders believe that sentences of probation are more punitive than sentences of incarceration. Why do you think this belief exists? Do you think it is justified? Why or why not?