In addition to the need for sanctions
and rewards to be swift, certain and predictable, they should
be fair and in proportion with the severity of the violation or
magnitude of progress. This means that minor violations should
receive lower level sanctions, while major violations require
stiff sanctions. This also means that if offenders continue to
violate their supervision, the sanctions must increase in severity.
Offenders who reach major milestones along the path of behavior
change should receive significant positive reinforcement.
Staff should also expect to give rewards
or positive reinforcement on a frequent basis. The rewards "shape"
offender behavior by giving positive, affirming feedback. Since
few offenders have had experiences when they have been acknowledged
for complying or making progress, the feedback serves to help
offenders learn the gratification from gradual progress. Staff
should expect that most offenders will require at least one sanction
during their supervision. Consequently, starting with the most
severe sanction possible - revocation - will result in the incarceration
of most offenders who were deemed by the court or the parole board
as at least initially acceptable for community supervision. While
some offenders will not adjust their behavior and eventually need
to be revoked, it is not beneficial for the change process to
seek a revocation on the first minor infraction. Starting with
a minor sanction and moving to more severe sanctions as necessary
raises the stakes for offenders and make a better use of time
for staff and other actors and resources in the criminal justice
system.