NCJ Number
191241
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 81 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2001 Pages: 360-375
Date Published
September 2001
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article examines the state of parole in today's corrections environment, notably the collateral consequences involved in recycling parolees in and out of families and communities, and suggests policy responses.
Abstract
Changes in sentencing practices, coupled with a decrease in prison rehabilitation programs, have placed new demands on the U.S. parole system. Nearly 700,000 parolees are being supervised in their communities. This number of releasees dwarfs any other period in the history of parole; and the needs of parolees are more serious; the public and parole system are less tolerant of failures; and the corrections system has few rehabilitation programs, either in prison or in the community. A number of collateral consequences are likely under such a situation, including increases in child abuse, family violence, the spread of infectious diseases, homelessness, and community disorganization. It is not surprising that most parolees fail to lead law-abiding lives and are rearrested. There have been a number of responses to the problems of parole. Through their exercise of discretion, parole boards can target more violent and dangerous offenders for longer periods of incarceration. The abolishing of parole may sound tough, but it removes an important "gate-keeping" role of parole boards that can protect communities and victims. Further, parole boards are in a position to demand participation in drug treatment, and research shows that coerced drug treatment is as successful in achieving abstinence as is voluntary participation. Parole boards can also require an adequate plan for a job and residence in the community. Perhaps most important, parole boards can reconsider the tentative release date when more information about the offense and offender has been collected, and the offender's behavior in prison has been observed. Parole guidelines, which are used in many States, can establish uniformity in parole decisions and objectively weigh factors known to be associated with recidivism. Given the increasing human and financial costs associated with prison -- as well as all of the collateral consequences parolees pose to families, children, and communities -- investing in effective re-entry programs may be one of the best investments that can be made. 41 references