Newsroom
Remembering Mark Kleiman
Mark Kleiman, a scholar and longtime advocate for justice reform, who coined the term “Swift, Certain, and Fair” as an approach to community supervision, died in July. Mark was a friend of the SCF Resource Center; his work is referenced in every newsletter and is too broad to fairly summarize here. A few especially thoughtful remarks are at the linked page.
To safely cut incarceration, states rethink responses to supervision violations
35 states develop policies, including SCF, to reduce recidivism and revocations.
SCF in the UK
Three articles examining SCF and how, or if, it works in the UK.
New probation program kicks off in Summit Co. (OH)
A behavioral response model based on SCF launches in Ohio.
Criminal Thinking as a Moderator of the Perceived Certainty-Offending Relationship: Age Variations
The concept of “certainty” may require understanding not yet attained by adolescents.
Free Will Skepticism, General Deterrence, and the “Use” Objection
Considers what constitutes successful deterrent punishment.
Set Up to Fail? Examining Australia’s Approach to Parole Compliance Through a Therapeutic Jurisprudence Lens
Fairness in SCF as a form of treatment.
Repairing justice: The prosecutor (podcast)
Examining the possible motivations of sentencing and second chances.
Penal Policy and the Lessons of Recent Experience
Developing policy with the belief that criminal behavior is like any other human behavior.
Charlotte Co. (FL) to introduce alternative sanctions
Alternative sanctions to avoid the life disruption that comes with incarceration.
Presque Isle Co. (MI) seeks to renew probation program grant
A judge proposes continuation of SCF program.
Brooklyn (NY) DA on gun-offender diversion program
SCF for young offenders with gun-possession charges.
7 steps to restore Seattle (WA) safety and civility
Recommending SCF for Seattle.
AK senators smart to think deeper about SB 91 repeal
A look at the logic of SCF.
Justice Reinvestment in Wyoming
A report on new policies aimed at reducing revocations and crime while saving money.
Probation, parole reforms considered in Pennsylvania
Addressing technical violations with SCF and limiting carceral sanctions.
What Works in Corrections? A Review of the Evaluation Literature
A review that includes several SCF programs.
Can Electronic Monitoring Reduce Reoffending?
A proposal for SCF principles in conjunction with electronic monitoring for community supervision.
Massachusetts Sentencing Commission Advisory Sentencing Guidelines [published April 26, 2019]
Sentencing guidelines to include SCF.
Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration
A new book on prosecutors relates the origins of HOPE.
An Overview of Michigan’s Efforts in Combating the Opioid Epidemic
SCF in Michigan parole as a partner with treatment.
Wyoming HB 53 has passed the House and the Senate. Now, awaiting the Governor’s signature.
SCF in Wyoming receives ACLU support.
Incorporating location tracking systems into community supervision
Combining location tracking with SCF.
Problem-Solving Courts in Australia: A Review of Problems and Solutions
Argues that SCF must include treatment programs.
A Criminological Fly in the Ointment: Specialty Courts and the Generality of Deviance
A review of specialty courts and what works (rejects SCF).
Community-Based Sentencing Orders and Parole: A Review of Literature and Evaluations across Jurisdictions
A look at what works and what doesn’t in community corrections that includes several SCF programs.
Levers of Change in Parole Release and Revocation
A comparison of parole-revocation standards across states that discusses SCF sanctions short of revocation.
FY 2018 Michigan Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program Annual Report
Michigan Swift and Sure Probation by the numbers.
New Mexico HB 564 takes aim at recidivism
A controversial New Mexico bill requiring SCF responses for probation and parole was vetoed by the governor.
Rochester, New York, crime stoppers: Probation vs. parole
SCF probation for high-risk, violent felons in Rochester.
Prior Convictions as Moral Opportunities
Considering swiftness and certainty in sanctions for reducing recidivism.
Confronting the opioid crisis [podcast]
Psychiatrist Sally Satel describes SCF as “Behavior 101.”
SB 642, the “Florida First Step Act,” makes changes to a number of provisions related to the criminal justice system
Alternative sanctioning programs attempt to resolve technical probation violations in Florida swiftly and certainly.
“An awakening”: Nebraska 24/7 Sobriety program credited with turning lives around
Nebraska looks at a statewide implementation of SCF for repeat DUI offenders.