DOI: 10.3886/icpsr36517.v1
title: Assessing the Influence of Home Visit Themes and Temporal Ordering On High-Risk Parolee Outcomes, Georgia, 2011-2015
title: Version 1

description: These data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed. This project explored the intensity of supervision conditions on parole failures by considering the role of home visits in five major events: general violations, drug test failures, technical violation arrests, new felony arrests, and revocations. Longitudinal data from the State of Georgia were pooled to examine 28,284 parolees who completed supervision in 2011 - 2013. Qualitative data analyzing case notes on home visits obtained from an offender case management system on high risk parolees who entered supervision between 2008, 2010 and 2012 and exited between 2011 through 2013 are not archived with ICPSR. The study collection includes 2 SPSS data files: Historical_Agency_Dataset.sav (n=28,284; 39 variables) and Observational_Dataset.sav (n=383; 122 variables).
description: The goal of this research project was to determine the influence that home visits, as a component of parole supervision, have on parole outcomes. Researchers proposed to answer two fundamental questions: 1) What are the key descriptive attributes of a home visit (content and purpose) as a component of parole supervision?; 2) What is the effect of home visits (number, content, purpose, and timing) as a component of supervision on multiple supervision outcomes: positive drug tests, violation of parole conditions, arrests for technical violations, arrests for felonies, and revocation of parole?
description: The observational dataset (<strong>Observational_Dataset.sav</strong>) contains fieldwork data. The data were collected during Georgia parole officer ride-a-longs of 383 home visits with high risk parolees. Ride-a-longs included 64 parole officers in 13 offices around the state. The study represents both urban and rural locations, as well as all geographical regions of the state. The nature and content of the dialogue between the officer and parolee were captured in a series of check-box topics on the observation form completed by the researcher after each visit. In describing the content of the field interactions, two categories of discussion topics were identified: surveillance/rules and needs/programs. Subsequent to field observations, research team members logged into parole's online Case Management System (CMS) portal to verify each parolee's status (to ensure they were high risk) and examine the officer's case notes to complete the data collection form. The completed field work phase of the study included 49 hours of observations, with a range of 16 to 122 visits each for the six research team member. These home visits data were used to assure parole officers' documentation of home visits mirrored what trained observers identified as the subject matters addressed during the home visit. The historical agency dataset (<strong>Historical_Agency_Dataset.sav</strong>) was created using multiple sources of longitudinal data collected from Georgia criminal justice system agencies. The state's Parole Case Management System (CMS) houses data on all parolees statewide and served as the primary source of data. CMS tables capture information about parolees and their supervision activity - demographics, supervising officer, risk levels, treatment tracks, interactions with parole officers, violations and sanctions, and supervision outcomes.
description: The data file <strong>Observational_Dataset.sav (n=383; 122 variables)</strong> contains variables related to home visits such as time and duration, interactions, setting, environment inside the residence, observed content of interaction, and content of interaction found in the Case Management System (CMS). The data file <strong>Historical_Agency_Dataset.sav (n=28,284; 29 variables)</strong> contains variables related to parole violations, parolee demographics, parolee offense, parolee prior record, and the supervision of their parole.
description: Not applicable.
description: Response Rates: Not applicable.
description: Presence of Common Scales: Not applicable.
description: <strong>Historical_Agency_Dataset.sav</strong>: These data were extracted for a cohort of parolees who completed supervision from 2011 to 2013. The data include all prison-to-parole exits types and parole supervision levels; parolees who transferred to another state were excluded. For parolees with multiple supervision episodes in the three year study period, only data from their most recent episode were used. The resulting sample included 28,284 parolees. The parolee profiles were then matched to the state's computerized criminal history (CCH) records repository, which included charge and conviction details for all arrestees fingerprinted in Georgia. <strong>Observational_Dataset.sav</strong>: These data were collected during parole officer ride-a-longs on 383 home visits with high risk parolees and 64 parole officers in 13 offices around the state. The study sites were selected by the research team in collaboration with a team of agency senior-field staff who were assembled for the purpose of improving field supervision practices. They represented both urban and rural locations, as well as all geographical regions of the state.
description: Datasets: DS1: Assessing the Influence of Home Visit Themes and Temporal Ordering On High-Risk Parolee Outcomes, Georgia, 2011-2015
description: Historical_Agency_Dataset.sav: Parolees who completed supervision 2011 to 2013 Observational_Dataset.sav: Parole officer home visits with parolees from September, 2014 to January, 2015 . Smallest Geographic Unit: None
description: record abstracts; coded on-site observationThese data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.Qualitative data analyzing case notes on home visits obtained from an offender case management system on high risk parolees who entered supervision between 2008, 2010 and 2012 and exited between 2011 through 2013 are not archived with ICPSR.