Four studies of medium and high research quality have examined the use of sanctions grids by parole and probation departments; however, only two examined the effect on recidivism. These studies show that there is no effect of the use of sanction grids/matrices on re-offending, compared to the use unstructured supervision policies. However, there is promising evidence that the use of sanctions grids/matrices provide for a better use of agency resources and lower the use of custodial (i.e., prison or jail) sanctions. It should be mentioned that all studies noted at least some issues with implementation, which complicates evaluation of their effects.
This content has not been updated in more than 5 years. It may be outdated and links may no longer function. Please contact the NIC Helpdesk if you have any questions about this content or would like to report a broken link.
Research in Brief Use of Structured Sanctions and Incentives in Probation and Parole Supervision
Notice about external resources
These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. NIC bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.