Some Have Criticized Probation as Being a "Meaningless" Punishment

question 90

Essay

Some have criticized probation as being a "meaningless" punishment. Why might they think this? What reforms would you suggest for increasing the surveillance aspect of probation?

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Definitions:

Door-In-The-Face

A persuasion technique whereby a large, unreasonable request is first made knowing it will be refused, so that a smaller, more moderate request is more likely to be accepted.

Foot-In-The-Door

A compliance tactic that involves getting a person to agree to a large request by first setting them up by having that person agree to a modest request.

Lowballing

A persuasion and negotiation tactic where an initially low offer is made to secure agreement, with subsequent increases after agreement has been obtained.

Risky-Shift

A phenomenon where a group collectively decides on a course of action that is more extreme than they would have made individually.