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Alternatives to imprisonment: Scope and evidence

Alternatives to imprisonment: Scope and evidence. Alex Stevens. This presentation. Why do we need alternatives to imprisonment? What alternatives are used in Europe? Do they operate as alternatives, or as additions to imprisonment?

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Alternatives to imprisonment: Scope and evidence

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  1. Alternatives to imprisonment:Scope and evidence Alex Stevens

  2. This presentation • Why do we need alternatives to imprisonment? • What alternatives are used in Europe? • Do they operate as alternatives, or as additions to imprisonment? • What are the effects of alternatives to imprisonment on drug use and crime? • What are the information needs in this area?

  3. Prison populations are rising… Source: Council of Europe Penal Statistics (SPACE I)

  4. … as crime falls Sources: International Crime Victimisation Survey & EU Crime and Safety Survey

  5. Prisons are overcrowded Source: Council of Europe Penal Statistics (SPACE I), * US Bureau of Justice Statistics

  6. … and prisons do not work • Deterrence • Imprisonment does not deter (Tonry 2004) • Rehabilitation • Longer sentences lead to more reoffending (Gendreau 1999) • Incapacitation: • Small effects at high cost (Kuziemko & Levitt 2004) • Retribution • If in doubt, do not inflict pain (Christie, 1981)

  7. Alternatives to imprisonment… • Decriminalisation • Diversion of drug users from prosecution • Quasi-compulsory treatment • Treatment of drug using offenders that is ordered, motivated or encouraged by the criminal justice system and takes place outside regular prisons. • Person retains the choice to go to treatment or face the usual sanction for their crime. • The alternative sanction should be the same as would be faced for any other person who committed that crime • People should not be punished for refusing or failing in treatment.

  8. QCT Europe - Crimes leading to QCT sentence

  9. Alternatives to imprisonment? The case of England & Wales

  10. … and the prison population has risen

  11. Decriminalisation as the real alternative

  12. Effects of alternatives – The QCT Europe Sample UK – 157 Austria – 150 Switzerland – 85 Germany – 153 Italy – 300 Total – 845 people Half in QCT Half in ‘voluntary’ treatment

  13. Drug use

  14. Crime

  15. Limitations • Sample sizes were relatively small in each country. • The sample did not compare QCT clients to prisoners (it was not possible to randomise sentencing). • Results based on self-report. • There were large differences between treatment centres in the quality and outcomes of treatment.

  16. Information needs • Is QCT being used as an alternative to imprisonment? • Number of people entering alternatives to imprisonment each year. • The profile of their offences. • The number of people entering prison each year. • Does QCT ‘work’? • Replication of quasi-experimental studies. • Randomised controlled trials. • Using variety of indicators (toxicology, police data). • ‘Realistic’ evaluations (Pawson & Tilley, 1998). • Including qualitative methods • What makes QCT work better? • How to improve inter-agency cooperation? • Motivational enhancement: • Contingency management? • Graduated sanctions? • Residential or outpatient? • Cost-effectiveness of QCT.

  17. Finally • Thanks to QCT Europe partners: • Paul Turnbull, Tim McSweeney, Neil Hunt, Ambros Uchtenhagen, Susanne Schaaf, Kerrie Oeuvray, Daniele Berto, Wolfgang Werdenich, Barbara Trinkl, Viktoria Kerschl, Wolfgang Heckmann • QCT Europe was funded by the European Commission’s 5th Framework RTD Programme • For more information: • www.connectionsproject.eu • a.w.stevens@kent.ac.uk

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