The Use of Alternative Methods to Incarceration, Essay Example

The first research question I would like to explore is do alternative options to incarceration such as rehabilitative programs, probation, halfway houses, etc. affect recidivism rates?  I am interested in this because I was a caseworker in a halfway house for federal inmates on pre-release.  These inmates were granted early release from the prison and allowed to live in the halfway house as long as they met certain conditions.  They needed to follow house rules, obey curfew, find employment, and other various conditions.  A violation of the house rules could result in them being sent back to prison.  Once they successfully completed their predetermined sentence they were released from custody entirely. What I want to study is if these type of programs help reduce recidivism, or if incarceration is more effective in reducing recidivism.   It is my belief that these alternative programs have no significant impact on recidivism at all.  I think that if someone is going to re-offend, they are going to do it regardless of the consequences.

The second research question I would like to explore is if tasers reduce the number of injuries to police officers and suspects in an arrest involving a use of force.  My motive for studying this topic is because I am currently a police officer and will be for another 25 years.  There has been a lot of debate in the media about the use misuse of tasers by police officers but my belief is that they actually reduce the amount of injuries to both officers and offenders.  Rather than go hands on with someone who is a threat, or hit them with a baton, I feel that the option of a taser is a great one to have for an officer.  I would like to compare the data showing the amount of injuries sustained by officers/suspects in an arrest involving a taser, to the number of injuries in an arrest that required a use of force other than a taser.  Not all departments have tasers, including my own, and I am interested to see if they are worth carrying. Many cities do not provide them to officers because they are expensive.  I believe that if they prove to reduce injury rates, they will be cost effective.  If an officer gets hurt while fighting with a suspect, he may miss work creating overtime/sick time for the city to pay.  On the other side, if a suspect gets a broken bone from a baton strike they may try to sue the city, costing the city legal fees.  I think that if tasers are implemented, they will reduce injuries and save cities money over time.