CRIME CONTROL POLICY AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PRACTICE

Abstract

The last decade has been marked by significant shifts in crime control policies, particularly those policies designed to address the unique problems created by drug offenders, alcohol offenders, sex offenders and mentally ill offenders. The decision to expand the use of prisons and jails for offenders in these categories is examined in this article, along with the corresponding conversion of community corrections programs to a surveillance/control orientation. Based on our review of current evaluation research, we explore the differential impact of this policy shift on women, minorities, and the poor and then discuss the implications of our findings for sentencing and correctional policy.