What could happen if low-risk cases receive intensive programming?

Intensive programming for low-risk cases can lead to their interference with or exposure to higher-risk individuals, which may not be in their best interest. When low-risk individuals participate in programs designed for higher-risk cases, they could be inadvertently influenced by negative behaviors or attitudes exhibited by those higher-risk offenders. This exposure can compromise the stability that low-risk individuals have cultivated and potentially increase their risk of reoffending, thus hindering the overall purpose of their supervision.

In contrast, while it is possible that low-risk individuals could benefit or develop strengths through certain programming, these outcomes are less likely when they are placed in environments inundated with higher-risk populations. Such interactions are critical to understanding why appropriate matching of program intensity to risk level is important in parole supervision and rehabilitation.