Recidivism Rates: Work vs. Prison Sentences

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Questions and Answers

What is the effect of being born in a foreign country on the odds of being sentenced to community service?

Foreign-born individuals are more likely to be sentenced to a prison sentence.

Foreign-born individuals are less likely to be sentenced to community service. (correct)

There is no significant difference in the odds of being sentenced to community service based on birthplace.

Foreign-born individuals are more likely to be sentenced to community service.

Which crime type is associated with the highest odds of receiving a prison sentence, in comparison with an ‘other laws’ crime?

Theft

Arson with danger to life (correct)

Assault with serious injury

Threatening, assault

What does the coefficient `-1.61` in the table represent?

The odds of being born outside of the country are 1.61 times higher for those sentenced to community service.

The odds of being born outside of the country are 0.20 times lower for those sentenced to community service. (correct)

The odds of being born outside of the country are 0.20 times higher for those sentenced to community service.

The odds of being born outside of the country are 1.61 times lower for those sentenced to community service.

Which of the following crimes has the smallest odds of leading to a prison sentence compared to an ‘other laws’ crime?

Insult Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of age on the odds of being sentenced to community service?

As age increases, the odds of receiving community service decrease. Signup and view all the answers

Based on the table, what is the approximate odds ratio for being sentenced to community service for a woman compared to a man?

1.50 Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the number of offenses in the initial case on the odds of receiving community service?

A higher number of offenses in the initial case increases the odds of receiving community service. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors has the strongest negative influence on the odds of receiving community service?

Being born in a foreign country Signup and view all the answers

What does the table suggest about the likelihood of receiving community service for crimes involving property offenses with violence?

Property crimes with violence are less likely to lead to a community service sentence than other types of crimes. Signup and view all the answers

Based on the table, which of the following crimes has the lowest odds of leading to a prison sentence compared to other crimes?

Housebreaking, local peace breach Signup and view all the answers

What is the recidivism rate for offenders sentenced to community service according to the research mentioned?

Approximately 50 percent Signup and view all the answers

Why might direct comparisons of recidivism rates between work sentences and imprisonment be problematic?

They do not consider selection effects. Signup and view all the answers

In general, which type of offenders are judges likely to sentence to community service?

First-time offenders and those with minor crimes Signup and view all the answers

What is a major limitation of the matching studies mentioned?

They do not adequately control for selection processes. Signup and view all the answers

What was the sample size of the study that looked at recidivism rates in 1997?

Approximately 4,246 individuals Signup and view all the answers

Which research method was employed to minimize selection process issues in the study?

Matching methods Signup and view all the answers

What do studies show regarding the likelihood of reoffending for prison inmates compared to community service offenders?

Prison inmates have a higher risk of reoffending. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the biases that affect the sentences of offenders that may influence recidivism evaluations?

Selection effects Signup and view all the answers

What are the main penal objectives discussed in the literature?

Retribution, general prevention, and special prevention Signup and view all the answers

Which theory suggests that harsher penalties deter individuals from committing offenses?

Deterrence theory Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what is expected about recidivism rates after work sentences compared to prison sentences?

Work sentences will lead to higher recidivism Signup and view all the answers

What is one proposed cause for lower recidivism rates with work sentences?

Increased social interaction with supportive figures Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'pains of imprisonment' refer to?

The physical and social discomfort experienced in prison Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes special prevention?

Intended to rehabilitate the offender and prevent future crimes Signup and view all the answers

What is one view held by differential association theory regarding crime?

Criminal behavior is learned through social interaction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about work sentences is considered incorrect?

They are designed to completely eliminate criminal behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the article by Wermink et al.?

To compare recidivism rates between work-restricted offenders and those sentenced to prison. Signup and view all the answers

In which journal was the article by Wermink et al. published?

Tijdschrift voor Criminologie Signup and view all the answers

What research method is suggested by the term 'gematchte vergelijking' in the title?

A matched comparison study of recidivism rates. Signup and view all the answers

What is the year of publication for the article by Wermink et al.?

2009 Signup and view all the answers

Which authors contributed to the study on recidivism rates?

Wermink, Blokland, Nieuwbeerta, and Tollenaar Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of adult offenders is being compared in this research?

Recidivism rates after incarceration or work sentences. Signup and view all the answers

What is advised regarding the use of the article's content?

Consult the publisher's version for citation and distribution. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key legal concept discussed in the context of the article?

Work sentences as alternatives to incarceration. Signup and view all the answers

What was the finding of Gilliéron et al. (2006) regarding the recidivism rates after eleven years?

Prisoners were better integrated into conventional society than those sentenced to community service Signup and view all the answers

What is identified as a limitation of the prior studies on recidivism?

They did not always use a comprehensive set of control variables Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a potential issue with prior studies?

Inadequate consideration of qualitative factors Signup and view all the answers

What data source was used for the analysis in the mentioned study?

Justitiële Documentatiedienst of the Ministry of Justice Signup and view all the answers

What does the OBJD stand for in the context of the research data?

Research and Policy Database of Judicial Documentation Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible reason for limited generalizability in some studies?

Focus solely on specific geographic jurisdictions Signup and view all the answers

What was the total number of individuals whose criminal records were analyzed from 1997?

28,072 Signup and view all the answers

Why is establishing causality between types of sentences and recidivism challenging?

The existence of unmeasured confounding variables Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary assertion of the disintegrative shaming theory?

Stigmatization encourages re-offending by treating offenders as outcasts. Signup and view all the answers

What is expected to be the effect of community service sentences compared to prison sentences?

They will contribute to the humanization of the penal process. Signup and view all the answers

How many studies used an experimental or matching design to compare recidivism rates of prison sentences and community service?

Four Signup and view all the answers

According to the studies mentioned, how do recidivism rates after community service compare to those after prison sentences?

Recidivism rates are lower after community service in several studies. Signup and view all the answers

What did Nirel et al. (1997) find regarding the recidivism of prison sentences compared to community service?

Prison offenders recidivate 1.7 times more often than community service offenders. Signup and view all the answers

What was the average number of convictions for community service offenders in the randomized experiment conducted by Killias et al. (2000)?

0.39 Signup and view all the answers

What does the deterrence theory suggest about the relationship between work sentences and recidivism?

Work sentences may lead to higher recidivism rates compared to prison sentences. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT mentioned as an outcome of the studies reviewed?

Recidivism rates are consistent across different sentencing types. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Recidivism after Work Sentences and Prison Sentences: A Matched Comparison

Study compared recidivism rates of adults given work sentences versus prison sentences in the Netherlands
Longitudinal, judicial data used to analyze recidivism over eight years for those given work sentences and those imprisoned
Propensity score matching and matching by variable used to account for potential selection bias in sentencing decisions
Results show lower recidivism rates for those given work sentences compared to those given prison sentences
Current work sentence policy used in the Netherlands increased substantially in use over past decade
Work sentences introduced to the Netherlands in the late 1980s as a replacement for short prison sentences (max 6 months)
Goal is to reduce recidivism, a key element in work sentences
Criminal justice theories provide various perspectives regarding work sentences vs prison sentences on recidivism
- Deterrence theory predicts greater recidivism with work sentences than prisons, as work sentences considered less severe
- Differential association theory suggests prison environments can promote criminal activities due to interaction with other criminals, while work sentences isolate individuals
- Social control theory posits that work sentences may actually reduce recidivism compared to imprisonment due to maintaining social ties, involvement in society, and not separating the criminal from their routine
- Labeling theory suggests that imprisonment can lead to criminal re-offending due to stigmatization and societal exclusion
Data collected from the Judicial Documentation Service of the Ministry of Justice, with data provided by the WODC (Scientific Research and Documentation Centre)
Recidivism defined as re-offending based on criminal history, in which subsequent cases were included in analysis
Propensity score matching technique used on 11,308 cases and compared work vs. prison sentences to examine recidivism,
Work sentences resulted in significantly lower recidivism rates throughout follow-up periods (over an eight year period).

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Description

This quiz explores the findings from a study comparing recidivism rates between adults given work sentences and those sentenced to prison in the Netherlands. Utilizing longitudinal data and advanced statistical matching techniques, the study reveals significant insights into the effectiveness of work sentences as a means to reduce recidivism over an eight-year period.