National correctional control, 2018 
 
This graphic does not include the volume of people in the community corrections outside of regular 
probation, or parole (which is about another million), but it does shed light on just how much probation is 
used. Therefore, it important to understand that the vast majority of individuals under correctional control 
aren’t even in the prisons and jails in the United States, even though that alone is a hefty number. The 
majority of persons under correctional control fall are in sanctions like Probation, Intensive Supervision 
Probation, Boot Camps/Shock Incarceration, Drug Courts, and Halfway Houses. Therefore, this section will 
discuss the history and effectiveness of some of the forms of intermediate sanctions we use in the United 
States. 
As we have discussed, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was a fundamental shift in corrections. This 
is largely due to the “Nothing Works” dogma in the area of rehabilitation. Many reforms were made towards 
the housing of offenders. Many liked this idea because they did not trust the government’s attempts at 
rehabilitation. Others were pleased as well since more emphasis was placed on control. Rooted in deterrence 
theory, and to lesser extent incapacitation, intermediate sanctions flourished and were seen as an instant 
success. That is, because they promised to increase control of the growing offender population, maintain 
security, and do all of this at a reduced cost, they were quickly welcomed across the nation. However, by 
reviewing each one, we can see the problems that promising too much may have created. 
ALISON S. BURKE, DAVID CARTER, BRIAN FEDOREK, TIFFANY MOREY, LORE RUTZ-BURRI, AND SHANELL
SANCHEZ
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