Final answer:
Probation's impact on recidivism can vary. Research indicates that alternative measures to incarceration and tailored rehabilitation efforts may be more effective at reducing recidivism than punitive approaches or intensive monitoring through probation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The implication of the research is that probation can have varying effects on recidivism. For juveniles, incarceration can increase the likelihood of future crime, suggesting that alternative measures like community service could be more effective. For adults, while incarceration can reduce crime for high-risk offenders, it is not effective for less prolific offenders or drug offenses. Rehabilitation strategies, such as educational and vocational programs, therapy, or counseling have been shown to be more effective in reducing recidivism than imprisonment or purely punitive measures. Moreover, programs like drug courts that combine treatment with monitoring for adults have been effective in reducing recidivism, more so than juvenile equivalents.
Intensive monitoring, such as by probation officers, may not be cost-effective and could even increase recidivism, making it clear that reducing the intensity of supervision can be a more beneficial approach. Restorative justice programs, which involve offenders, victims, and communities, lead to modest reductions in reoffending but are cost-effective with higher victim satisfaction. Thus, the answer to how probation affects recidivism is that it may not work if made tougher and less cost-effective, and the best approach depends on carefully tailored measures for different types of offenders.