An Exploratory Study of the Views of Supervision Strategies by Community Corrections Probationers in China

Abstract

Offenders’ attitudes toward supervision models are critical for the success of supervision practices in community corrections. It is surprising, however, that there is a general lack of research on offenders’ attitudes toward supervision models or strategies in community corrections. Using a sample of 351 offenders serving community corrections in City W, China, the current study found that the majority of the respondents positively perceived rehabilitation supervision and the environmental supervision strategies. The punishment supervision strategy was supported by the respondents but with a lower degree, relative to the support for other supervision strategies. Institutional factors were the most important predictors of the offenders’ attitudes.

Views of Community Corrections Supervision and Their Predictors: An Officer and Offender Comparison

“…Most of the existing studies focus on whether the views of supervision are related to supervision practices. Fewer have examined the predictors of the views of community correctional supervision models from the perspective of officers (Jiang et al, 2016b; Payne et al, 2016; Whitehead & Lindquist, 1992) or the perspective of offenders (Chui & Chan, 2014; Jiang et al, 2020; Shapland et al, 2012).…”

“…Supervision is commonly believed to be the backbone of community corrections (Taxman, 2008). However, community supervision's success is also affected by attitudes toward community supervision strategies and other factors (Dembo, 1972; Jiang et al, 2020; Ricks & Eno Louden, 2015; Steiner et al, 2011). Empirical studies have provided evidence for the attitudes-outcome linkage in community supervision (see Ricks & Eno Louden, 2015).…”

“…Chui and Chan (2014) explored male juvenile offenders’ perceptions of their probation officers in Hong Kong– authoritarian/punitive or supportive/rehabilitative. Jiang et al (2020) investigated offenders’ views of supervision strategies and the predictors of these views in mainland China. There are, however, very few quantitative studies of offender attitudes toward community supervision models, such as law-enforcement, therapeutic, and crime-opportunity prevention (Jiang et al, 2020; Shapland et al, 2012).…”

“…Jiang et al (2020) investigated offenders’ views of supervision strategies and the predictors of these views in mainland China. There are, however, very few quantitative studies of offender attitudes toward community supervision models, such as law-enforcement, therapeutic, and crime-opportunity prevention (Jiang et al, 2020; Shapland et al, 2012). To the best of our knowledge, Chui and Chan (2014) and Jiang et al (2020) are the only studies using multiple regression analyses to examine offenders’ attitudes toward these models and their predictors.…”

“…There are, however, very few quantitative studies of offender attitudes toward community supervision models, such as law-enforcement, therapeutic, and crime-opportunity prevention (Jiang et al, 2020; Shapland et al, 2012). To the best of our knowledge, Chui and Chan (2014) and Jiang et al (2020) are the only studies using multiple regression analyses to examine offenders’ attitudes toward these models and their predictors. Accordingly, the purposes of this study were 1) to determine the views of supervision by offenders and officers, 2) to compare and contrast the views, and 3) to investigate and compare the predictors of the views.…”