A 2003 study by the New Mexico-based Rio Grande Foundation showed that New Mexico spent $9,600 less per prisoner in 2001 than did states with no prison privatization programs. The state saved more than $50 million in 2001 over the previous year without prison privatization by contracting out for management of less than half its prison system (La Faive, 2004)
htm#tab-2 Working Conditions Notwithstanding the foregoing considerations, the probation officer profession is not for everyone, including some candidates who initially set their career goals on becoming a probation officer. In this regard, one college student emphasized that, "Originally I went to school and interned to become a probation officer for juveniles, and realized that I would not long be happy with a career with so many impossible situations" (Buron, 2009, p
2). Although the responsibilities assigned to probation officers will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the above-listed tasks are consistent with those responsibilities that are described in the relevant literature (Weisburd, Waring and Chayet, 2001)
The Effectiveness of Probation: Probation is a commonly used tool in the judicial system today. In fact, over a five-year period, there were 293,439 offenders in the probation system, in the five largest counties in the Twin Cities metro areas (Browning)
Using a radio frequency identification system (RFID), the schools are embedding chips into student identification cards. While the schools defend their choice by noting a loss in funds when students are absent, coupled with a claim that students are "safe" when they are monitored, many Texas parents are outraged ("Students and Parents Revolt Against New Electronic Monitoring Device Used by Texas Schools," 2013)
Electronic monitoring can entail the use of an ankle bracelet or the embedding of a radio frequency identification system (RFID) into an individual's identification card. In Texas, public schools are turning to electronic monitoring of students to increase attendance (Sundar, 2013)
The goals of probation and parole are similar: to prevent crime, offer safety for the victims and community; promote fair justice for both victim and offender, and encourage a shift in ideology away from intolerance to compassion, responsibility, and healthy rehabilitation. Especially in the United States, a country that has the highest percentage of citizens behind bars than any other nation in the world, probation and parole are necessary solutions to high crime rates, recidivism rates, and prison overcrowding (Fauteck)
The extent at which the parolee or probationer is supervised, placed under surveillance, or must report to the officer varies from individual and depends on the prevailing social climate and laws. However, for parole and probation to be fully effective, the level of supervision must be kept at a minimum; otherwise the effectiveness of these programs is called into question (Paparozzi)
95 per day, but probation costs about $3.42 a day (Katz, et al
There are several kinds of probation, including: a) unsupervised probation (this is generally only available for very petty crimes); b) supervised probation (this requires regular contact with a probation officer and includes specific rules -- no alcohol, etc. -- that must be adhered to); c) community control (in this case the person on probation may be under house arrest and/or have ankle monitoring); and d) shock probation (the judge in this case may put the probationer in prison just to shock him, then release him on probation) (LaMance, 2012)
-- that must be adhered to); c) community control (in this case the person on probation may be under house arrest and/or have ankle monitoring); and d) shock probation (the judge in this case may put the probationer in prison just to shock him, then release him on probation) (LaMance, 2012). Probation and recidivism: A report by the Justice Strategies group shows that in 2006, nationwide, 18% of people who exited probation were "…incarcerated due to failure under supervision" (Rios, p
Probation or Imprisonment Regardless of variations in the criminal code that differ from state to state, there are factors that generally are used in considering propriety of a probation sentence are alike in all jurisdictions in the United States. The reasons for these common factors are to ensure the appropriate punishment, consequences and rehabilitation of an offender as well as to protect society at large (Abadinsky, 2008)
In most cases, these officers usually find that advising and counseling the criminals increases the likelihood of these people to successfully re-integrate into the society. The rehabilitation services provided by these officers may include helping criminals to find a home or job or information on how to handle various social situations (Echie, 2007)
Three Major Roles of Probation and Parole Officers: Some of the major roles assumed by probation and parole officers that are critical to their job functions and make them important part of the criminal justice system include: Supervision: The basic role of probation and parole officers is to supervise the convicted criminals who are serving their jail terms to ensure that these individuals comply with the terms of probation. These individuals may be required to attend counseling, rehabilitative sessions, pay for their restitution, present themselves to drug testing, and even get a job (Wallace, n
In an effort to uncover the reasons for this increased litigation, some critics have opined that many of these challenges arose as a response to the broad discretion commonly delegated to trial court judges to craft conditions that they believe are appropriate. (Betesh, 2002) The above article -- as well as others, such as Berezney (2003-4) have focused on the requirement that probationers be forced to use contraception while on probation so that they cannot have children during this period
Many sex offenders as well as individuals convicted of other crimes such as domestic violence or drunk driving are now outfitted with electronic tracking units so that their whereabouts can be pinpointed at all times. An individual who is supposed to keep a certain distance from his victim, for example, or a sex offender who is forbidden to come within a certain number of feet of a school might well be fitted with such a monitor so that authorities can be alerted immediately if he or she is in a place that is not permitted under the conditions of probation (Corbett, Fitzgerald, & Jordan 1998)
If the probationer succeeds at the "test" of probation, then he or she is considered by the criminal justice system to be safe to return as a full member of society. Some of the conditions of probation are almost universally true: For example, essentially all probationers are forbidden to possess firearms or other weapons and many have curfews (Rhine & Paparozzi, 1999, p
These programs can include psychological counseling, drug and alcohol abuse education and prevention, anger management, domestic violence counseling, or parenting. All of these programs are designed to help improve public safety and to minimize the chance that the individual in question does no further harm to his or her victims and family (Smith & Dickey, 1998
Diversion and Probation in Corrections Theory Probation in Criminal Justice: The concept of probation is that some of the strains on the criminal courts and the rest of the criminal justice system can be reduced by sentencing certain low-risk criminal defendants to probation in lieu of incarceration (Schmalleger, 2008; Zalman, 2008)
The actual process usually consists of regular mandatory reporting of the convict to an assigned probation officer in conjunction with other requirements such as gainful employment, academic or vocational training, and non-participation in any criminal activity or association with other criminals or ex-convicts (Schmalleger, 2008). The primary means of enforcing probation is the suspension of probationers' Fourth Amendment rights against unwarranted searches because that condition is part of the agreement to probation in lieu of incarceration (Zalman, 2008)