Deck 10: Corrections in the Community: Alternatives to Confinement

Question 1

In Canada, there is no evidence that diversion programs have any impact on correctional populations.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Offenders can be sent to a diversion program only at the pre-charge stage of the justice process.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Convicted offenders who receive a term of incarceration of exactly two years (which places them under the authority of the federal corrections system) can also receive a sentence of probation of up to three years.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Diversion programs have been a key feature of the Canadian criminal justice system for decades.

Question 5

Offenders who are serving conditional sentences are supervised in the community by probation officers and are, technically, on probation.

Question 6

Canadian diversion programs have been found to reduce correctional populations.

Question 7

The majority of diversionary programs require offenders to admit responsibility for their offence(s).

Question 8

Probation falls under the authority of the provincial/territorial government.

Question 9

Being required to abstain from drugs and/or alcohol is an example of an optional condition of probation.

Question 10

A breach of probation may result in revocation or suspension of the probation sentence, sometimes leading to incarceration.

Question 11

The primary purpose of conditional sentences is to provide effective community treatment and support.

Question 12

Every province follows a standardized model of probation officer recruitment and training.

Question 13

Over the past decade, there has been a shift in the role and orientation of probation officers toward control/surveillance.

Question 14

Increasing caseloads and increasing workloads have been identified as obstacles to effective probation.

Question 15

Electronic monitoring is the most frequently used strategy for supervising offenders in the community.

Question 16

Intermediate sanctions are also known as community sanctions.

Question 17

The primary objectives of intermediate sanctions are treatment and rehabilitation; the secondary objective is offender accountability.

Question 18

Intensive supervision probation (ISP) is used primarily with special categories of adult offenders.

Question 19

There is no evidence that intensive supervision probation (ISP) results in cost savings or reductions in prison populations.

Question 20

Community correctional agencies often fail to gather the information necessary to determine the effectiveness of their practices.

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT a major objective of diversion programs?

A) reducing costs
B) reducing stigmatization
C) assisting offenders in addressing factors related to their offending
D) assisting offenders in accessing treatment and services in the community

Question 22

What do electronic monitoring, fines, community service, and conditional sentences have in common?

A) They are all intermediate sanctions.
B) They are all diversions.
C) They are all restorative approaches to sentencing.
D) They are all utilitarian approaches to sentencing.

Question 23

Chantal was arrested for mischief. She is a first-time offender, and the officer has decided not to formally charge her but rather to send her to a diversion program. While he has her best interests in mind, the officer also knows that he does not have enough evidence to proceed with formal criminal charges. What do this officer's actions exemplify?

A) police protection
B) an intermediate sanction
C) net-widening
D) due process

Question 24

Who is electronic monitoring (EM) used for in Canada?

A) It is used for both provincial/territorial and federal offenders.
B) It is only used for provincial/territorial offenders.
C) It is used most frequently for offenders convicted of violent crimes.
D) It is only used as a "front-end" sentencing option.

Question 25

Rory committed a property crime and has been ordered to pay a fine to the victim. Which type of response is this?

A) an intermediate sanction
B) a conditional sentence
C) a concurrent sanction
D) diversion

Question 26

Following her involvement in a drug-related offence, Renée has been ordered to stay at a halfway house in the community. Which type of this order is this?

A) a concurrent sanction
B) an intermediate sanction
C) diversion
D) a conditional sentence

Question 27

Which principle of effective correctional treatment identifies the importance of matching treatment interventions to the learning styles and abilities of individual inmates?

A) the need principle
B) the risk principle
C) the responsivity principle
D) treatment principle

Question 28

Which principle of effective correctional treatment identifies the importance of treatment interventions that address factors related to the offending behaviour?

A) treatment principle
B) the responsivity principle
C) the risk principle
D) the need principle

Question 29

What is the maximum period of time that a probation order can be in effect in Canada?

A) two years
B) three years
C) four years
D) five years

Question 30

Martin has received a sentence of 12 months and has been ordered to serve the entire sentence in the community under house arrest. While serving the sentence he must fulfil both required and additional conditions. Which type of sentence is Martin serving?

A) an intermittent sentence
B) intensive supervision sentence
C) a suspended sentence
D) a conditional sentence

Question 31

Carrie committed a break-and-enter and used a handgun to gain entrance to the premises. Which of the following sentencing options CANNOT be used in this case?

A) electronic monitoring
B) intensive supervision probation
C) a conditional sentence
D) probation

Question 32

Which of the following statements is NOT true of probation in Canada?

A) It is an incredibly versatile sentencing option.
B) It is granted by an administrative tribunal.
C) It is only available to offenders sentenced to two years or less.
D) A breach may result in an extension of the probation period.

Question 33

What is the situation regarding the recruitment and training of probation officers in Canada?

A) Recruitment and training of probation officers is a two-year-long developmental process in each province/territory.
B) Recruitment and training of probation officers does not often involve pre-employment training.
C) Each province/territory has developed its own procedures and standards for recruiting and training officers.
D) Each province/territory follows the same procedures and standards for recruiting and training officers.

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT an activity or task completed by probation officers?

A) the completion of pre-sentence reports (PSR)
B) the supervision of provincial parolees in Ontario and Quebec
C) the supervision of offenders released on bail
D) the supervision of offenders 24/7/365

Question 35

Which of the following does NOT explain the role and orientation of probation officers toward control surveillance?

A) increasing number of violent offences being committed by probationers
B) increasing probation officer caseloads
C) increasing accountability to reduce liability
D) increasing number of special categories of offenders

Question 36

Which scenario describes the most common instance of probation?

A) following a sentence of incarceration
B) as part of a conditional discharge
C) as a sentence on its own
D) as part of a conditional sentence

Question 37

Which of the following is NOT identified in the text as an obstacle to effective probation practice?

A) decrease in the number of probation officer applicants and recruits
B) growth of special categories of offenders
C) increase in the risk/needs profile of offenders on probation
D) increase in probation officer caseloads

Question 38

Jane is a probation officer. She often finds herself torn between the need to provide adequate support and assistance to her probationers, and the need to enforce all the mandatory and additional conditions of their probation orders. Which of the following best describes the primary source of Jane's conflict?

A) net-widening
B) the dual role of probation officers
C) downloading
D) ineffective case management

Question 39

Darrell is an offender who is being assessed by his probation officer. She notes that he is very likely to recidivate, and therefore will need more support than other probationers on her caseload. Which principle is the probation officer applying in her assessment?

A) the magnitude principle
B) the need principle
C) the responsivity principle
D) the risk principle

Question 40

Mina is an offender who is being assessed by her probation officer. The officer notes that Mina has severe substance abuse issues that need to be addressed in her supervision plan. Which principle is the probation officer applying in her assessment?

A) the need principle
B) the risk principle
C) the magnitude principle
D) the responsivity principle

Question 41

Cleo is an offender who is being assessed by her probation officer. She has several friends and family members who are also involved in criminal activities. Her probation officer is concerned that these individuals will disrupt Cleo's progress, and encourages her to limit her contact with them. Which principle is the probation officer applying in her assessment?

A) the risk principle
B) the need principle
C) the responsivity principle
D) the magnitude principle

Question 42

Matthias is an offender who is being assessed by his probation officer. She notes that Matthias has attention deficit disorder (ADD) and that this needs to be taken into account in his treatment and services. Which principle is the probation officer applying in her assessment?

A) the need principle
B) the magnitude principle
C) the responsivity principle
D) the risk principle

Question 43

Which of the following factors does the need principle focus on?

A) basic needs
B) situational needs
C) non-criminogenic needs
D) criminogenic needs

Question 44

Which statement is NOT true of intensive supervision probation?

A) It is generally used in conjunction with electronic monitoring.
B) It includes a requirement that offenders get and keep a job.
C) It is often used with young offenders.
D) It includes more rigorous conditions than traditional probation.

Question 45

Identify the seven different uses of probation in the Canadian criminal justice system. Which of these uses is the most common?

Question 46

Discuss the controversy that surrounds the use of conditional sentences in Canada.

Question 47

Consider electronic monitoring as an alternative to confinement by: a) identifying the goals of EM programs; b) discussing the issues that surround its use; c) discussing its use in Canada.

Question 48

Identify the three situations or sentences in which an adult offender must be on probation.

Question 49

What is diversion and when can it be used in the criminal justice process?

Question 50

Identify the four situations or sentences in which probation is optional but not required.

Question 51

Compare and contrast parole and probation. Identify at least four major differences between the two options. What is the result of a breach of each of these options?

Question 52

Identify and briefly discuss the obstacles to effective probation supervision.

Question 53

What does the term "intermediate sanctions" mean? Provide examples.

Question 54

What does intensive supervision probation entail? How is it different from regular probation?

Question 55

Discuss the use of, and controversy surrounding, conditional sentences. There have been efforts to prohibit the use of conditional sentences in cases involving violence. What are your views on the use of conditional sentences and what, if any, restrictions should be placed on this sentencing option?

Question 56

What does the "dual role" of probation officers entail? Why might this be problematic in terms of providing support to probationers? Provide examples to support your assertions.

Question 57

Explain "front-end" versus "back-end" electronic monitoring (EM) in Canada. Identify concerns with EM; in particular, the potential privacy issues associated with EM, net-widening, and the negligible impact on criminal behaviour. The current generation of EM programs in the U.S. employ Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) to monitor the movements of offenders under supervision 24 hours a day as well as to pinpoint their exact location. What you think of this technology? Would you like to see its widespread use across Canada? Discuss the effectiveness of EM according to evaluations conducted on this alternative to confinement.

Question 58

A recent trend in probation has been for offices to have units with specially trained officers to deal with special categories of offenders. Which types of offenders are likely to be on caseloads like this? What does research show about these specialized units? Do you agree with this trend? Why or why not?

Question 59

Discuss the use of diversion in Canada. Identify the stage at which you think diversion is most beneficial-pre-charge, post-charge, or post-sentence-and explain the reasons for this belief. Explore the potential benefits and downfalls of diversion programs and discuss whether or not the potential benefits outweigh the downfalls.

Question 60

Discuss the recruitment and training of probation officers and how this process may help prepare the applicant to be a probation officer. Discuss the roles and responsibilities probation officers have, including their role in the assessment and case management of probationers. Explore the reasons why probation officers have become more control/surveillance oriented. What impact do you think this shift has had on probationers? And the relationship between the probation officer and probationer? Explore the potential consequences of this shift.

Question 61

Identify and explore the obstacles to effective probation supervision. Explore these obstacles, and especially the consequences of these obstacles. What recommendations do you have to address these obstacles? Address each obstacle, providing a solution to the problem, and discuss how the strategy would make a difference for probation officers and/or probationers.

Question 62

What does research about the experiences of probationers indicate? What do you think about these findings? Do they support the current practice of probation as an alternative to imprisonment? Why or why not?

Question 63

What are the differences between the pains of probation and the pains of imprisonment? Why do you think these differences exist? Which pains do you believe are more severe? Why?

Question 64

Research in the United States has shown that some offenders believe that sentences of probation are more punitive than sentences of incarceration. Why do you think this belief exists? Do you think it is justified? Why or why not?