Should We Continue to Incarcerate Non-Violent Offenders?

This brief seeks to determine what types of offenses and offenders warrant punishment in prison and what types of offenders could be penalized using a community-based sanction. As one of the most expensive forms of punishment, prisons are designed to protect the community from people who pose a serious threat to the safety of the community, namely violent and predatory offenders. Studies show that many factors contribute to the crime rate, such as the state of the economy, the demand for illegal drugs, arrest patterns, and prevention efforts, among others. Higher incarceration rates play only a marginal role in overall crime reduction. In addition, stiffer penalties and longer prison sentences for non-violent and drug crimes will not necessarily increase public safety.Includes bibliographical reference

Risk factors for potential occupational exposure to HIV: A study of correctional officers

This study examined social determinants that explain correctional officer exposure to blood/bodily fluids. Seasoned officers in five prisons were selected at random to complete an anonymous mail survey regarding situations which may have placed them at risk for exposure to HIV while at work. Institutional variables more strongly predicted officer chances of occupational exposure in a corrections setting than did perceptual and individual level variables, particularly the custody level of inmates supervised, length of time in the corrections career, and being in a position of rank. Years of experience increased the number of exposures to blood and bodily fluid, and increased officer apprehensiveness concerning uses of force with seropositive inmates. Knowledge about HIV and the frequency of use of personal protective equipment was not related to the likelihood of encounters with blood or bodily fluids.

Group and solo robberies: Do accomplices shape criminal form?

Robbery is frequently committed in groups, yet previous literature gives only passing attention to the role of co-offending. The effects of co-offenders on criminal decisions and the form crime takes when committed by groups are largely unknown. Drawing on individual interviews with convicted robbers, offenders who committed their crime alone are compared with those who co-offended. The study considered whether the presence of accomplices significantly affected perceptions of planning, control, victim selection, and victim cooperation. Findings revealed that group interaction shapes the decision to commit crime. Co-offending increased planning and the sense of control that offenders experienced during the robbery. No evidence was found to indicate that crime with co-offenders changed the way robbery victims were selected.