Parole essay samples

Parole or probation refers to the internationally accepted mechanism allowing the conditional release of a tried and convicted offender from a correctional facility or center into the community preceding the expiration of their sentences of incarceration as imposed by a court of law (Schlager, p. 273). This community-based supervision usually occurs during the sentence of incarceration based on the positive adjustments of the offender to rehabilitative goals established during this incarceration period. Probations or paroles are not only aimed at releasing the offenders from incarceration, but also aimed at decongesting the rehabilitation facilities as well as reintegrating the offenders back into the community.
The role that probation plays in criminal justice has been hotly debated in most states of America. While some of these states have dismantled their Parole Boards, others have also undertaken the tasks of refurbishing the parole systems with new guidelines. Parole or probation work is both cost effective and ineffective according to varied economic and social standpoints. According to the opponents of probation, the free work performed by the people released from prison can be expensive since these offenders do not work according to the required standards. These people are not usually paid for the work that they perform in the community. Considering the fact that money or rewards provide motivation towards work, people working on community projects without pay might not work satisfactorily or produce intended outcome.
According to the provisions of the state law, the Parole Board grants parole to individuals only if there is a reasonable assurance the prisoner will not be menace to society or to the public safety. Parole supervision has proven effective since the supervision duty is not only entrusted on the state officers, but also on the members of the community. This ensures that the members of the community assist the correctional and supervision authorities to help in transforming the released persons on probation. During the probation period, the courts give directions on the measures taken against the persons released on probation. Some of these measures include ensuring that they perform their duties with discretion, or they face the chance of being returned back into prison and denial of future probation release. The individuals can also face further charges for fraud and misconduct. Considering such provisions of the court, individuals on probation usually give the supervision authorities easy time so that they can get positive feedbacks, which may further reduce their probation sentences.
The costs of supervising the offenders in the correctional facilities involve several mechanisms, which might cost the nation much money and resources. The officers required to conduct supervision on the inmates, the facilities required to host these offenders, and the other resources required for the up keep of these offenders within the correctional facilities also come with some costs. However, releasing the offenders on probation requires allocating a single office with limited officials to supervise the people on parole. Additionally, these people live with their families and fend for themselves without support from the prison authorities. Moreover, the services they provide to the community would have otherwise been done by some paid labor. Nevertheless, they provide such services free, thereby reducing the cost of production in their respective fields. Therefore, I believe probation/parole work is cost effective and provides satisfactory supervision of inmates.

Work Cited:

Schlager, Melinda D. ” An Assessment Of Parole Officer And Administrator Attitudes On Organizational Culture And Parole Supervision In A Northeastern State.” Journal Of Offender Rehabilitation 47. 3 (2008): 271-289. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.