The rapid increase in law violators causes a proliferation in social cost and the cost of funding correction institutions ( Taxman & Breno, 2017). Since correction aims to punish the law breaker, protect the society, and rehabilitate the offender, necessity arose on the need to develop alternative programs. This paper analyzes the concept and role of intermediate sanction and its examples.
The concept of intermediate sanction
The concept emerged when courts became challenged in deciding between sentencing offenders for imprisonment or probation. As explained by Petersilia et al., (2012) intermediate sanction is a form of correction that falls in between probation and prison. Taxman and Breno (2016) posit that, the concept of intermediate sanction was proposed by two criminologists; Morris and Tonry in the 1990s who argued that courts were too lenient or strict to offenders while passing sentence judgment. In their argument they stated that, judges were too serious in passing prison sentences to offenders who would not be a threat to the society while being too lenient in passing probation sentences to lawbreakers who required tougher actions.
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With the introduction of intermediate sanctions, an alternative strategy to divert the offenders from incarceration and save money while providing credible punishment that matched offenders’ crime was provided (Byrne, 2016). Besides, the strategy aided in the reduction of stigmatization and psychological challenges associated with reintegration of offenders from prison. Intermediate sanctions are divided into two groups; residential and non -residential sanctions.
Types of Intermediate Sanctions
Residential Intermediate Sanctions
Half-way House
The offender is put in a facility and is required to attend a job or school, church, and community rehabilitation activities. It is aimed at modifying behavior change to the offender.
Correction Boot Camps
This is a program where the offender is subjected to physical training through hard labor and therapeutic educational activities such as counseling and vocational training. The program can be proposed by a judge during sentencing or correctional administrators in the prison/jail choosing offenders who would participate.
Restitution Centres
This is a community facility aimed at offering stable employment to the offender enabling them to pay back the victims the harm done.
Therapeutic Centres
The facilities are aimed at treating drug addiction problems by providing a supportive environment and surrogate families.
Non-residential Intermediate Sanctions
House Arrests
It is a mode of sanction where offenders are contained at their home and only attend to work or correction treatment purposes.
Intensive supervision
It is an advanced type of probation where intensive surveillance, increased conditions, and treatment are subjected to offenders compared to a normal probation exercise.
Electronic monitoring
This form of sanctioning is an electronic monitoring technique that monitors the physical location of the offender either through a pager or GPRS.
Conclusion
In my view, intermediate sanction helps judges obtain a middle ground level in providing sentences that are more severe than probation yet less strict than imprisonment. The strategy has a positive effect in the reduction of crimes as offenders are psychologically and emotionally held personally accountable for their behavior changes.
References
Byrne, J. M. (2016). Smart sentencing revisited. Advancing Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy , 249.
Petersilia, J., & Reitz, K. R. (2012). Introduction Sentencing and Corrections: Overlapping and Inseparable Subjects. In The Oxford Handbook of Sentencing and Corrections .
Taxman, F. S., & Breno, A. (2017). Alternatives to Incarceration. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice .
Taxman, F. S., & Maass, S. (2016). What Are the Costs and Benefits of Probation?. In Probation (pp. 179-196). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
