In theory, sanctions are used as a last resort to motivate clients who otherwise would not participate in programs or search for work. Other research has suggested that sanctions can increase welfare recipients' participation in program activities.
Available data suggest that few clients in Michigan have received sanctions.
During the time of data collection, Michigan's sanction rate was approximately three percent. For those who have resisted our request for mutual responsibility, penalties have varied in their effectiveness. Ultimately, the effectiveness of sanctions in changing a client's behavior depends on her actions. She can choose to be non-compliant and gamble on whether or not she will be sanctioned, or she can be responsive to the threat of losing money and be induced to participate in a program. Although local managers were not specifically asked about the use of sanctions, many, especially in Work First programs, volunteered their perceptions.