Exploring the Impact of an AVRS Curfew Program on Recidivism of Juvenile Probationers in Korea

• Date: 01 October 2018
• DOI: 10.1177/0306624X18790427
• Author: Younoh Cho,Jeff Mellow
• Published date: 01 October 2018
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X18790427

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2018, Vol. 62(14) 4425 –4444

© The Author(s) 2018

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DOI: 10.1177/0306624X18790427

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Article

Exploring the Impact of

an AVRS Curfew Program

on Recidivism of Juvenile

Probationers in Korea

Younoh Cho1 and Jeff Mellow2

Abstract

Community corrections agencies across the world have adopted biometric

technologies as a security tool and cost-effective monitoring strategy. This study

investigates the effectiveness of the automated voiceprint recognition supervision

(AVRS) curfew program for 386 Korean juvenile probationers from the Seoul

Probation Office. Although the AVRS curfew program in Korea has been in effect

for more than 14 years, effectiveness of the program has not been fully tested. A

propensity score analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the AVRS

program, controlling for potential covariates of referring juveniles to the program.

Contrary to expectations, a logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the

innovative curfew program is a statistically significant factor in increasing the odds of

recidivism. The article concludes with a discussion of implications for court-ordered

juvenile curfew programs.

Keywords

curfew, juvenile probationers, voiceprint recognition, recidivism, types of crime

Introduction

Biometrics is the identification of a person based on the capture and confirmation of

certain physical (e.g., facial, iris, fingerprint) or behavioral (e.g., voice) characteris-

tics, which are compared against a database to ensure the correct person is identified.

1Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea

2John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, NY, USA

Corresponding Author:

Younoh Cho, Associate Professor, Department of Police and Criminal Justice, Dongguk University-Seoul

Campus, 3ga Pildong, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Email: ycho@dongguk.edu

790427IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X18790427International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyCho and Mellow

research-article2018

4426 International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 62(14)

Once the realm of science fiction, and then confined to high-security private and gov-

ernment facilities, biometric technologies have gone mainstream among law enforce-

ment agencies. For example, U.S. law enforcement has facial recognition data on 117

million citizens, and police officers routinely take DNA sample of arrestees as part of

their investigation (Garvie, Bedoya, & Frankle, 2016). Correctional agencies have

also adopted biometric technologies as a security tool and cost-effective monitoring

strategy.

In general, fingerprint recognition, and hand geometry are the most common physi-

cal biometric identifiers used in corrections. In the United Kingdom, reporting kiosks

for low-risk offenders use fingerprinting to confirm the identity of parolees, whereas

some parole agencies in the United Studies require parolees to download an app on

their smartphone, which uses facial recognition software to confirm their location

(Verie, 2017). Although not as common, voice recognition systems are a low-cost

monitoring technique, which can be utilized through most landline and cell phone with

little new hardware requirements. It is particularly useful in Korea where GPS ankle

bracelet electronic monitoring is not allowed for juvenile probationers (Cho, 2009;

The Korean Ministry of Justice, 2011). Beginning in 2003, the Korean Ministry of

Justice adopted the automated voiceprint recognition supervision (AVRS) curfew pro-

gram for juvenile probationers (The Korean Ministry of Justice, 2016a). The Korean

curfew program uses an individual’s unique speech patterns and computerized voice

verification systems in identifying juvenile offenders (Kim, Kim, Lee, Won, & Lee,

2007).

Despite the increasing use of biometrics in community supervision, very little

research has been conducted on their effectiveness in the United States and the United

Kingdom (Fried, 2001; Nellis, 2004; Padgett, Bales, & Blomberg, 2006; Tonry, 1990).

The same is true in Korea where the AVRS curfew program has received widespread

support though its effectiveness remains unclear (Kim et al., 2007). This study is an

outcome evaluation of the AVRS curfew program using official data of 386 youth

probationers from Seoul Probation Offices in the Korean Ministry of Justice. As a tool

of intensive supervision, the program intended to regulate and monitor juvenile proba-

tioners’ deviant behavior, particularly at night, through individual voiceprint and auto-

mated computer verification techniques (The Korean Ministry of Justice, 2003). In

this context, this study examines the effect of the AVRS curfew program on recidivism

rates by creating propensity score–matched samples of juvenile probationers in and

out of the AVRS curfew program.

Literature Review

Theoretical Framework for the AVRS Curfew Program

Routine activities theory addresses factors that influence the range of choices available

to offenders (Clark & Felson, 1993). Instead of emphasizing root causes of crimes,

such as offenders’ disposition or personality, routine activities focus on the impact of

changed circumstances on crime rates (Clarke, 1980; Braintingham & Faust, 1976).