Community corrections has undergone a revolution over the past decade. Probation and parole populations have more than doubled as offenders continue to commit more serious crimes. Money for these programs has not increased, placing pressure on the programs to create tougher but cheaper sanctions and at the same time promising to rehabilitate offenders and keep communities safe. New programs have been set up, among them electronic monitoring, boot camps, and house arrest -- some successful, others not. Although probation and parole do receive a great deal of public attention -- particularly when a new crime is committed -- there is relatively little scholarly literature or serious discussion of the subject.
Community Corrections fills this gap, bringing together twenty-two readings covering the best available information on the current context, implementation, and impact of community-based sanctions. It offers policy-relevant information and identifies what works in community corrections, answering the most basic questions -- what services are provided and at what cost; who receives probation and parole; and what programs are most effective. Designed for students, correctional professionals, and policymakers, Community Corrections brings readers up to date on the issues, data, and programs that comprise community corrections. Several of the articles appear here for the first time, while others have either been previously printed or updated specifically for this volume. Providing an overview of the changing face of community corrections and the debates surrounding it, this text provides commentary on and assessments of various programs, showing the great unrealized promise in community corrections.