Environmental corrections: An application of environmental criminological theories to community corrections practices

Abstract

The Environmental Corrections model of probation and parole applies the tenets of environmental criminological theories to community corrections practices. This model works to reduce recidivism by addressing the two causes of crime: opportunity and propensity. First, officers work to limit supervisees’ access to chances to commit crime, redesigning offenders’ routine activities so that risky settings are avoided and replaced with prosocial influences. Second, the nature of officeroffender meetings is reoriented so that the criminogenic needs relevant to opportunity-avoidance and -resistance are addressed. This article describes the results of a 6-month evaluation of a pilot test of the Environmental Corrections model.