NCJ Number
59708
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
GOALS OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION OF OFFENDERS ARE DISCUSSED, WITH ATTENTION TO ROLES OF PROFESSIONALS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OFFENDERS IN REHABILITATION AND IN SUPERVISION BY PAROLE AND PROBATION OFFICERS.
Abstract
A MAJOR DEFICIENCY IN THE FIELD OF CORRECTIONS AND IN THE REHABILITATION OF CRIMINAL OFFENDERS IS THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN COMMUNITY SUPERVISION. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE PRESSURE OF COURTS, PAROLE AND PROBATION OFFICERS ARE OFTEN FORCED TO ABDICATE THEIR SUPERVISION RESPONSIBILITIES AND INSTEAD, PRODUCE MORE TANGIBLE PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATIONS. IN MANY CASES, RESTITUTION IS NOT PAID REGULARLY TO VICTIMS, MONTHLY REPORTS ARE LATE, SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF PAROLE AND PROBATION ARE NOT MET, COMMUNITY RESOURCES ARE USED ON A VERY LIMITED BASIS, FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ARE DELINQUENT, AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFENDERS ARE NOT MET. CONSEQUENTLY, PAROLE AND PROBATION SUPERVISION SYSTEMS ARE NOT FUNDED ADEQUATELY, PERSONNEL TURNOVER IS HIGH, AND OFFENDERS KNOW THAT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL ARE SUBSTANDARD. A TASK FORCE WAS APPOINTED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF OFFENDER REHABILITATION TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR ENHANCING THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION. THE PLAN IS TO COLLECT ABOUT $2.6 MILLION FROM OFFENDERS IN THE STATE TO HELP DEFRAY THEIR COSTS OF SUPERVISION. THIS GOAL ENFORCES THE STATUTORY PROVISION THAT PAROLEES AND PROBATIONERS PAY $10 PER MONTH TOWARD THEIR SUPERVISION. OVER 1,000 VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SUPERVISION IN FLORIDA HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO PROTECT SOCIETY BUT THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON DECISIONS MADE ABOUT COMMUNITY SUPERVISION. CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS ARE ACTIVE IN PROBATION AND RESTITUTION CENTERS, AND A STATEWIDE OFFENDER JOB BANK PROGRAM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BASED ON VOLUNTEERS EFFORTS. COMMUNICATION AMONG VOLUNTEERS, PROFESSIONALS, AND OFFENDERS IS ESSENTIAL IN ACHIEVING GOALS OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION. (DEP)