Honest Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE)
Solution types
Alternative Measures
Problems addressed
Recidivism
Drug abuse
Effectiveness

No Effect

.

.

.

.

.

No Effect

Want to know more about this classification? Check out our methodological manual.

Life periods served
Adults (18 to 59 years)
Where the program was applied
Community (streets or community centers)
Country of application
United States
Description

This is a community supervision strategy that applies fair and swift punishments for probation violations. The goal is to reduce recidivism among high- to medium-risk individuals and reduce the costs of incarceration.
The intervention includes intensive monitoring, random drug testing, and application of punishments for violations, such as return to prison. Initially, drug testing occurs twice a week or 4 to 6 times a month, but as tests show negative results for drug abuse, the frequency is reduced.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation revealed that, after the 12-month follow-up period, the treatment group was less likely to test positive for drugs; however, it showed a higher number of probation violations compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant effects on recidivism (into any crime) or new convictions [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Lattimore, P. K., Dawes, D., MacKenzie, D. L. & Zajac, G. (2018). Evaluation of the Honest Opportunity Probation with Enforcement Demonstration Field Experiment (HOPE DFE): Final Report. Research Triangle Park, NC. National Institute of Justice (NIJ). https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251758.pdf

Information source