crime and society exam 4

probation vs parole

- probation: a criminal punishment that typically involves a sentence of incarceration that is suspended with the offender's agreement to meet specific conditions while being supervised in the community; occurs at the beginning of a sentence

- parole: releasing a prisoner with certain conditions before they serve their entire sentence; occurs after incarceration

advantages of probation

- enable offenders to remain in and reintegrate into the community

- avoid stigmatization

- save money

- allow offenders access to treatment and related services within the community

- avoid criminogenic environment

disadvantages of probation

- perceived as weak

- fails to meet the goal of punishment, including increased risk for recidivism while being punished

parole advantages

- saves money

- allows for community integration while they are still under some form of state control

parole disadvantages

- perceived as weak on crime

- provides opportunity for reoffending

conditions of probation

- standard conditions: imposed on all probationers (reporting to PO, remaining employed)

- punitive conditions: individual to increase severity/restrict (restitution, comm. service)

- treatment conditions: individual to target specific needs (rehab, outpatient, anger mgt)

conditions for parole

same as probation

determining factors for probation

- caseload size

- nature and seriousness of the crime

- criminal history

- likelihood to reoffend

- personal circumstances

determining factors for parole

- incarceration length

- behavior while incarcerated

- severity of the crime

- criminal history

- mental illness

- victim input

probation revocation and process

- violating probation rules

- preliminary hearings: facts are reviewed to determine if probable cause exists

- hearings: probation dept presents evidence, probationer may refute, decision is rendered

- sentencing: a judge may decide to reprimand, add conditions, or revoke and incarcerate

parole revocation

- similar to probation hearings, parolees have a right to confront witnesses, receive written notice of charges, present testimony, witnesses and evidence, receive written statement justifying the final decision

mandatory parole

used in states with determinate sentencing (sentence length can't be changed by parole board); often includes earned time for good behavior calculations; prisoner is let out because they served their entire sentence

discretionary parole

the release of an inmate at the discretion of a parole board based on behavior, rehabilitation, and risk before the sentence ends

work release

work outside prison to get job skills

study release

attend class outside of prison

furloughs

temporary leave from prison, typically 24-72 hours to reconnect with families, find a job or housing, etc in anticipation of upcoming release

three models of parole boards

- the institutional model: board is embedded within the prison

- the autonomous model: outside the prison

- the consolidated model: institutional members provide input but decision is made to board members outside the prison

primary function of parole officers

assist parolees with:

- finding residences

- maintaining obs

- managing jobs

- managing money

- re-establishing ties with family members and friends

- adjusting to living under direct supervision by a parole officer

how does parole officer role roles differ in juvenile corrections

focus more on rehabilitation and social services

goal of punishment

- rehabilitation

- incapacitation

- retribution

- deterrence

- restoration

corrections in the US in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s

- 1960s-1980: mass incarceration with a focus on rehabilitation

- 1980s-1990s: focus on incapacitation, tough on criminals, private prisons, intermediate sanctions; belief that nothing works in rehabilitation

trends in mass incarnation

peaked from 2008-2010; progressively increased from 1925 to 2010

where does the US rank in incarceration rates

#4

intermediate sanctions and examples

- a series of penalties that are more punitive than probation, yet less severe and far less costly than incarceration

- examples: day reporting centers offer parenting, life skills, drug testing, etc; shock probation which is incarceration first but deft doesn't know they will then receive probation

jails

- operated by a county government or federal

- for people pretrial

- misdemeanors - less than a year

prisons

- more remote areas

- house guilty people after trial

- felonies

- more funding

- state or federal

jail accreditation

a process that helps ensure jails conform to professional standards; administered by accreditation agencies that check that jails meet criteria and inspect routinely

reasons for accreditation

- strict standards

- protects jails against lawsuits over the conditions of confinement

- enhances professional recognition of the many contributions of jails

services in prisons

- management: budgeting, planning, food services, clothing, laundry, facilities management

- security: corrections officers, prisoner discipline, investigations, visitations

- programming: medical, dental, psych services, education, recreation, religion

correctional officers

- security through detaining offenders

- inspect facilities to ensure they meet standards

- report on inmate conduct

- search inmates

- ensure incarceration is secure and humane

- prepare inmates for release and opportunities to better themselves

different types of correctional officiers

- block officers/yard officers

- work detail supervisors

- industrial shop/school officers

- administration building assignments

- wall posts

-relief officers

prison wardens and superintendents roles

oversee:

- operations of the prison

- supervise staff

- support staff

- inmates

custodial model

focused on incapacitation, retribution, deterrence

rehabilitation model

popular during the 1950s-1970s; largely abandoned in the 80s and 90s

reintegration model

strives to keep prisoners integrated with community

benefits and criticisms of private prisons

- benefits: can be better quality and more efficient, ease govt pressure

- criticisms: can be corruption, can be more expensive, less accountability, staff turnover

inmate subculture (including females vs males)

- toughness, loyalty, silence, disdain for prison staff

- females vs males: focused on kinship, family structures, open expression of affection; males express homophobia and aggression

inmate labor benefits

helps maintain operations, keeps prisoners busy, saves money, teaches inmates skills

inmate labor criticisms

exploitation and can be unsafe as prisoners are granted more freedom

inmate balance theory

says that prisons operate more effectively when officials tolerate minor infractions, allow inmate leaders to maintain order, and relax some security measures to an acceptable level

preventing violence in prisons

- careful classification of prisons

- providing recreational opportunities

- increasing accountability and oversight of prisons

- providing early release incentives, counseling, treatment

- better staff training

mental health in jails/prisons

- usually do not do well incarcerated

- suffer from mental health illnesses higher than general population (14% in prisons and 26% in jails)

- jails have little resources for mental illness

juvenile justice and delinquency prevention act

encourages states to remove status offenders from institutions; encouraged states to remove juveniles from adult facilities

how does juvenile probation differ from adult

- probation officers seek to build a bond with juvenile offenders and develop trust

- focused on rehabilitation

aftercare for juveniles and requirement

- most states use indeterminate sentencing

- aftercare officers may meet youths in detention facility to help develop a plan for success in the community upon release

- requirements: obey parents and teachers, abide by a curfew, avoid contact with specific people, avoid use of illegal substances, report to the aftercare officer as designated