Intermediate punishments are intended for selected criminals convicted of nonviolent crimes, low-level drug offenders, and probationers and parolees who have committed technical violations but no new crimes. Many of these offenders are currently serving time in prison. To accommodate differences in crimes and behavior, the middle rung punishments increase in severity and control as one mounts the ladder towards prison.

Intermediate punishments typically have two parts: punishment and requirements to change behavior. Punishment comes from depriving criminals of their freedom and/or demanding payment for victims or the community. Behavior change forces offenders to deal with those traits that led them to crime in the first place, to reduce the possibility of future crime. For instance, most offenders have a drug or alcohol problem. Treatment is therefore often required as part of an intermediate sentence. Or if the offender hasn’t been able to hold a job, or has dropped out of school, job readiness classes or a GED can become a requirement.

Criminals find these punishments tough. Many prefer time behind bars to the stringent conditions imposed by these heavily structured sanctions.

Intermediate punishments are designed to do one or more of the following:

• protect the public by restricting the freedom of lawbreakers;
• hold criminals accountable for their wrongdoing;
• address those qualities, such as addiction or joblessness, that foster criminal conduct;
• make the criminal shoulder at least some of the financial burden of the program, as well as pay restitution to the victim.