1. Greetings all! Welcome to week 8!
Tonight we’re going to discuss Community Corrections, Probation and Parole
Does anyone have any questions before we get started?

2. Community Corrections
Also known as community-based corrections, community corrections:
Refers to a wide range of sentences
that depend on correctional
resources available in the
community.
Permit convicted offenders to remain
in the community under conditional
supervision as an alternative to an
active prison sentence.

3. Question????
What are some examples of community corrections??

4. Examples include the following:
Probation
Parole
Home confinement
Electronic monitoring

5. Probation
A sentence of imprisonment that is suspended; instead, the sentence is served while under supervision in the community.
This is conditional freedom granted by a judicial officer to a convicted offender, as long as the person meets certain conditions of behavior.
English Roots: In the 1400s, English courts began the practice of “binding over for good behavior,” in which offenders were placed in the custody of willing citizens.

6. In the U.S.:
The first probation officer was John Augustus ( ), a Boston shoemaker who observed court proceedings and volunteered to take home drunkards. He supervised over 2,000 offenders.
In 1878 Massachusetts enacted a statute that provided for the first paid probation officer. By 1925, all states and the federal government had similar legislation.

7. Question???
What are some of the problems with probation as it is used today? Is there any way to correct these problems/shortcomings?

8. The Extent of Probation
Probation is the most commonly used form of
sentencing.
20-60% of guilty individuals are placed on
probation.
The number of offenders supervised yearly on
probation increased almost 300% since 1980.
Today, there are over 3.9 million people on
States vary with regard to extent of use.
Even violent offenders may receive probation

9. Offenders Under Correctional Supervision in the US

10. Percentage of Convicted Felony Offenders receiving Probation

11. Questions??
Do you feel the use of probation is “out of control”? Why/why not?
How many times would you sentence an offender to probation before imprisoning him/her?

12. More than 3/5 met the conditions
In 2002, of the nearly 2 million adults on probation:
More than 3/5 met the conditions
Approximately 13% were incarcerated
3% absconded
11% had probation revoked without
being ordered to serve time
Probationers must abide by court-mandated conditions or risk probation revocation.
There are two types of conditions: general and specific.

13. Probation Conditions Specific Conditions General Conditions
Judge-mandated for the specific probationer.
Examples:
Surrender driver’s license
Pass GED test
Do community service
Curfew
Complete a treatment plan
General Conditions
Apply to all probationers within the jurisdiction.
Examples:
Obey laws
Maintain employment
Remain within jurisdiction
Allow probation officer to
visit home or work place
Pay court ordered fines

14. Parole Strategy for prisoner reentry:
… the status of an offender conditionally released from prison by a paroling authority prior to the expiration of sentence, required to observe conditions of parole, and placed under the supervision of a parole agency.
Strategy for prisoner reentry:
The managed return to the community of individuals released from prison.

15. Parole vs. Probation Parole Offenders spend time incarcerated before
release.
Parole is an
administrative decision
made by paroling
authority.
Parolees must abide
by conditions or risk
revocation.
Probation
Probationers generally
avoid prison time.
Probation is a
sentencing decision
made by a judge.
Probationers must abide
by conditions or risk
revocation.

16. Parole Decision Making Mechanisms
Parole Boards
Grant discretionary parole based on judgment and assessment by parole board.
Statutory Decrees
Produce mandatory parole, with release date set near sentence end, minus good time.
* More common

17. Extent of Parole 42% successfully complete parole.
There’s a growing reluctance to use
parole.
Most states use mandatory release. About 91% of parolees are released via mandatory release.
In 2004, 753,140 offenders were on parole.
States vary considerably in their use of parole.
Of all parolees:
42% successfully complete parole.
26% return to prison for violations.
12% return to prison for new
violations.

18. Question??
Why is it so difficult for parolees to successfully complete the term of their parole?

19. Parole Conditions Similar to probation conditions
General and special conditions
Examples of conditions include stipulations that parolees must
Periodically report to parole officer
Maintain employment
Pay fines and restitution
Sometimes pay a “parole supervisory fee”
Parole Revocation - An administrative action
Removing a person from parolee status in response to a violation of lawfully required conditions of parole.

20. Griffin v. Wisconsin (1987) - Supreme Court ruled that probation officers may conduct searches of a probationer’s residence without a search warrant or probable cause. Though the 4th Amendment normally provides for privacy, probation “presents special needs beyond normal law enforcement that may justify departures.”
Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole v. Scott (1998)
Supreme Court declined to extend the exclusionary rule to searches done by parole officers.

21. Revocation Hearing
Revocation hearing—a hearing held before a legally constituted hearing body (such as a parole board) to determine whether a parolee or probationer has violated the conditions and requirements of his or her parole or probation.
Annually, about 16.5% of parolees and 2.2% of probationers have their conditional release revoked.
Most revocations stem from these violations:
Failure to report to probation or parole officer
Failure to participate in a stipulated treatment program
Alcohol or drug abuse while under supervision.

22. Morrissey v. Brewer 1975
U.S. Supreme Court held that parole revocation
proceedings require the following:
Written notice of specific alleged violation
Disclosure of evidence of violation
An impartial hearing body
Opportunity to offer a defense
A right to cross examine witnesses
A written statement of the outcome

23. Beardon v. Georgia 1983
Probation cannot be revoked for failure to pay a fine and make restitution if it could not be shown
that the defendant was responsible for the failure…alternative forms of punishment must be considered before imposing a prison sentence.

24. Intermediate Sanctions
The use of non-traditional sentences in lieu of imprisonment and fines. These sentences offer alternatives that fall somewhere between simple probation and outright incarceration. Also called alternative sentencing strategies.
Examples include:
Split sentences
Shock probation/parole
Shock incarceration
Mixed sentences and community service
Intensive supervision
Home confinement and electronic monitoring

25. Question???
What are some of the advantages of intermediate sanctions?

26. Advantages of Intermediate Sanctions
There are three distinct advantages:
Less expensive, per offender, than prison
They are “socially cost effective”
Provide flexibility in terms of resources, time, and place

27. release. Offender usually does not know if he will
Split Sentencing - a combination of brief incarceration followed by probation. Frequently used for minor drug offenders.
Shock Probation/Parole - Offender is sentenced to prison and is allowed to apply for probationary
release. Offender usually does not know if he will
be released and expects to serve a long prison term.
Shock parole is similar, but the decision is
administrative rather than judicial.

28. Shock Incarceration -
Makes use of “boot camps” to demonstrate
reality of prison life. Mainly used for first time offenders. Boot camps involves strict discipline and physical training. Programs typically last from days. “Failures” return to general prison population.
Though they appear “tough on crime,” research shows recidivism rates to be negligible.

29. Mixed sentencing—a sentence that required that a convicted offender serve weekends in a confinement facilities while undergoing probationary supervision in the community.
Community service—requires offenders to spend time working for a community agency. Services can include washing of police cars, cleaning graffiti, and refurbishing public facilities.
Intensive Supervision - Form of probation that requires frequent face-to-face contact with probation officer
Mandatory curfew
Employment required
Frequent check of local
arrest records
Unannounced drug testing

30. Question???
Do you consider home confinement or electronic monitoring a “real” sanction? Why/not?

31. Home Confinement and Electronic Monitoring
Sometimes called “house arrest.”
Individuals ordered confined to their homes.
Sometimes electronically monitored using remote location monitoring.
Often, people are allowed to leave during work hours, and may also leave during an emergency.
Frequently used with some pregnant women, geriatric offenders with special needs, the terminally ill, and other special offender categories.
Use of electronic monitoring is increasing.

32. That’s it for tonight everyone! Thanks for a good seminar.
Next week, we will discuss Prison Lifestyles and Inmate types.
Don’t forget your final essay is due in Week 9. You might want to get a head start!
If you have any questions, I’ll be here through the top of the hour. As always, if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me via or on AIM at cherylahorwath.
Have a great week! See you on the Boards!