The Attitudes and Practices of Israeli Adult Probation Officers Regarding the Use of the Criminal Fine

During the past three decades, numerous Western justice systems have begun to focus on the search for alternatives to imprisonment. One alternative that began to receive increased attention in recent years is the criminal fine. This study has been aimed at examining the discretion of Israeli adult probation officers in recommending the use of criminal fines, analyzing their fining policy—in reference to the ideology of the Israeli adult probation service and clarifying the future tendencies of its use. Key findings from the research include the following: (a) Israeli adult probation officers hold negative attitudes towards the use of this sanction, (b) most participants claim that their professional training does not offer the knowledge and ability to recommend or set monetary sanctions, and (c) most interviewees totally ignore the subject of criminal fine enforcement.