In recent years, harsher sentences have been pursued in criminal offenses leading to an increase in the use of incarceration. Prisons, largely unable to keep up with this demand, have become overcrowded in most areas. In response to prison overcrowding, some jurisdictions have begun to experiment with electronically monitored house arrest.
This thesis is composed of a literature review and proposed study of recidivism in electronic monitoring (EM) programs. The literature review is composed of a general review of the history of corrections, a review of literature on electronic monitoring programs and social bond theory.
The history of corrections serves to partially explain the emergence of electronic monitoring programs as an outcome of the adoption and failure of other forms of intermediate sanctions. The present state of electronic monitoring, including a description of the technology incorporated in these programs, the extent to which EM programs are implemented, and their cost effectiveness are discussed. In addition, some legal implications of its use are discussed.
A review of previous research indicates numerous gaps in the existing evaluation of electronic monitoring programs. Because of these gaps many research questions are not sufficiently answered by the literature review. The rate of recidivism for EM programs compared to that of other correctional programs remains unclear. The underlying factors that affect the recidivism rate for EM programs also remains unclear. In addition, the effects on the offender, the offender’s family, peer group, and employment are not identified. The two reasons responsible for the inability of previous studies to adequately assess the rate of recidivism for EM programs compared to standard probation of parole and the underlying factors predicting recidivism are the exclusion of variables pertaining to the effects of electronic monitoring on the offender as well as the lack of theory needed to understand the relationships of recidivism, and type or correctional program.
Literature on social bond theory is reviewed in order to provide theory to the examination of recidivism in electronic monitoring programs. Beginning with an explanation of Hirschi’s original work (1969), the review extends to empirical literature on the social bond. Finding this literature to be strongly supportive of social bond theory, it is adopted as a structure to examine recidivism. Primarily used in the study of delinquency, social bond theory is adapted to apply to the study of adult populations and recidivism, and the possible effects of EM on the social bond is discussed.
A proposed research study is then presented examining the effects of EM on social bond factors and subsequently recidivism. The relevance of control variables, including length of sentence, type of offense, and prior convictions are discussed as well as the measurement of variables related to social bond theory. A structural equation model is developed that incorporates the control variables, bond variables, program variables, and recidivism, allowing for a simultaneous estimation of their relationships, using LISREL 8. It is hypothesized that EM programs, more than standard probation and parole positively affect the social bond of an offender to his or her family, peer group, and employment. In addition, it is believed that a stronger social bond to the institutions of family, peer group, and employment results in a lower incidence of recidivism. / Master of Science
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/44967 |
| Date | 01 October 2008 |
| Creators | Meekins, Brian J. |
| Contributors | Sociology |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Text |
| Format | viii, 87 leaves, BTD, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | OCLC# 36222467, LD5655.V855_1996.M445.pdf |
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