Vol. 7 No. 3 May 2002

THE EFFECTS OF PUNISHMENT ON RECIDIVISM

Question: Does punishment of offenders Method: A meta-analytic review of the reduce their re-offending? literature on the effects of criminal justice sanctions on recidivism was Background: In the mid-1970s, there conducted. Meta-analysis provides a was a noticeable shift in criminal justice quantitative synthesis of the research policy in the United States, and less literature and this method is widely markedly in Canada. Emphasis was regarded as superior to the more directed away from offender traditional narrative literature review. rehabilitation programming toward punishment in order to control The literature search identified recidivistic crime. The use of 111 studies that examined the incarceration increased substantially in association between various criminal many jurisdictions and sentences of justice punishments and recidivism. imprisonment became longer. In Over 442,000 offenders were involved in addition to the increased use of these studies. The review included incarceration, the last 25 years saw an studies of imprisonment and explosion in the use of intermediate intermediate sanctions. Noteworthy in sanctions. the review were analyses of the findings with different types of offenders (e.g., Intermediate sanctions represent a range juveniles, women, minorities). of punishments falling between traditional probation and imprisonment. Answer: The overall findings showed They include intensive probation that harsher criminal justice sanctions supervision, electronic monitoring, boot had no deterrent effect on recidivism. On camps and short periods of incarceration the contrary, punishment produced a followed by intensive surveillance in the slight (3%) increase in recidivism. These community (“shock incarceration”). findings were consistent across Underlying these punitive approaches to subgroups of offenders (adult/youth, criminal behaviour is the belief that male/female, white/minority). criminal justice sanctions will deter offenders from re-offending.

RESEARCH SUMMARY Vol. 7 No. 3

Compared to community sanctions, incapacitation of dangerous imprisonment was associated with an offenders, denunciation of prohibited increase in recidivism. Further analysis behaviour). of the incarceration studies found that longer sentences were associated with 2. The lack of suppression effects higher recidivism rates. Short sentences across different offender groups (less than six months) had no effect on indicates that applying sanctions recidivism but sentences of more than selectively to specific groups is two years had an average increase in without merit. For example, recidivism of seven per cent. imprisonment and intermediate sanctions were no more effective in Intermediate sanctions demonstrated no reducing recidivism among youthful relationship with recidivism. This offenders than with adult offenders. category included studies of intensive supervision, fines, boot camps, 3. The ineffectiveness of punishment electronic monitoring, scared straight, strategies to reduce recidivism drug testing and restitution. Once again, further strengthens the need to direct no differential effects were found with resources to alternative approaches respect to age group, gender and race. that are supported by evidence. Research based offender Policy Implications: rehabilitation programs offer such a viable alternative for reducing 1. Criminal justice policies that are recidivism. based on the belief that “getting tough” on crime will reduce Source : Smith, P., Goggin, C., & recidivism are without empirical Gendreau, P. (2002). The effects of prison support. Imprisonment and other sentences and intermediate sanctions on criminal justice sanctions should be recidivism: General effects and individual used for purposes other than differences. (User Report 2002-01). Ottawa: Solicitor General Canada reducing re-offending (e.g.,

For further information:

James Bonta, Ph.D. Solicitor General Canada 340 Laurier Avenue West Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0P8 Tel (613) 991-2831 Fax (613) 990-8295 e-mail [email protected]

Also available on Solicitor General Canada’s Internet Site @http://www.sgc.gc.ca

May 2002 2