Probation and parole were designed as alternatives to time in prison, but they often end up having the opposite effect.
Nationwide, 45 percent of admissions to state prisons are the result of probation or parole violations. Sometimes these violations are serious, but most involve technicalities, such as botched paperwork, curfew violations or missing a drug test, according to a report released Tuesday by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center.
“Many states have made recidivism reduction a public safety priority,” says Megan Quattlebaum, the center’s director, “but the harsh reality is that supervision fails nearly as often as it succeeds.”
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Great...give them yet another break!. First break, a plea deal. Second break, all the "good time" credit they get...now let them violate the basically simple rules...stay out of trouble, show up when you are supposed to, (yes, I know there are other rules but follow those two first and foremost). Maryland's Justice Reinvestment Act is such a JOKE...limits on how much time for so called "technical" violations and all the steps the PO's have to go through before they can even violate the person...most people don't know that people can get paroled at the discretion of the warden without having the parole commission hold a hearing...an "administrative" release...So a guy gets 18 month sentence, and gets out in 3 months. Real deterrent.
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ReplyDeleteParole and probation obviously come with a ream of paper and a ration of in-person counseling prior to release. Failure to abide by the conditions is sufficient to incarcerate again. One would think that would be enough motivation to keep them straight.
I got a DUI one time and I told my lawyer that no matter how much jail time or fines were involved that under no circumstances did I want probation, I didn't want anything hanging over my head, when it was over I wanted it over.
ReplyDeleteYes 7:45, It's almost impossible to stay out of trouble when on probation and jail time hanging over your head
DeleteParole and probation requirements make it impossible for the released to follow their rules. Impossible to keep a job when you are required to report one day to the parole officer, take a urine test another day and go to a mandatory drug/alcohol meeting another day. Better to keep them incarcerated until they can be really cut loose to resume a normal life and keep a job. Definitely need to cut these parol office jobs out of the budget. Rather be in jail until released and be free then attempting to jump through hoops on the outside to satisfy a broken corrupt system.
ReplyDeleteMy wife missed jury duty (unintentional) and was fined $100 ($50 suspended if paid at her court appearance) and a day confinement which was also suspended. Laws are laws and penalties are penalties. Many "crimes" are not serious felonies and really don't require incarceration. However, hours of community service like picking up trash or cutting grass in medians or city building maintenance might be suitable alternatives. Or, perhaps public embarrasment like stocks.
ReplyDeleteHey 5:44, i think I understand your thinking. The entire criminal justice system needs reform. Everything today seems to demand arrest/conviction/incarceration. Your lucky, you and one other person in the history of humanity has never done anything wrong. The police have been slowly pushed into where some arrests are done where just one generation ago you took the person home and they dealt with it. How many of these crimes involve drugs. Then after the increase in arrest it goes to the courts where their caseloads are so high that plea deals have to be made or the courts would be coming to a grinding halt. Then when they do get out on probation/parole they are in the another system that is even more over worked. Now that prisoner when they get out has a low chance of finding housing, getting a job as well as adjusting to life outside of jail. Then the prisoner gets charged with a technical violation and has to go back. These are not additional criminal violations that they are charged with. Probation officers can't do the job they want and are expected because of an unbelievable high workload. Why don't you go and spend 3 months in a state prison. I am sure most people have done something in their lives like take some office supplies from work (post-it notes, printer paper etc) that you warrant a criminal conviction, except you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with 753 that he definitely shouldn't be paroled and should stay incarcerated for the benefit of our society. Stupid rules like "work" and "don't do drugs." Outrageous! Who could possibly comply with that???
ReplyDeleteNeed to go back to God in the homes and classrooms.
ReplyDeleteThe ENTIRE legal system is corrupt. Go to court for whatever. You get drug and alcohol classes. Neither involved. Just to charge you for ANYTHING.
ReplyDelete@8:20 Yes, the last perfect person died on a cross. Did I ever state that I had never done anything wrong? NO, so get off your high horse. I have been in law enforcement/Public Safety for nearly 3 decades so I believe I know just a little more about what happens than the average person, and dare I say, definitely a bit more than you know. There is something called free will in our country-the people that choose to commit crimes have a choice to make. If they make the wrong choice and are arrested, there are consequences. These consequences are intended to DETER further criminal behavior, however, when the consequences are minimized, then the incentive to be a productive citizen is less and less...why do the right thing when the wrong thing is often easier? Our legal system is not perfect, but beats the hell out of what some other countries have. Pretty much everything you said is an excuse to NOT do the right thing. And by the way, a so called technical violation will net 15, 30, and 45 days as they keep violating the conditions of their parole or probation. They get 3 bites of the apple for technical violations- Only after the 45 day sanction can they get a bigger chunk of time, or be revoked. Seems awfully fair-and maybe YOU should take a look at what the average offender has to do with their parole or probation. Many do not have to report AT ALL, some once a month or just call in. They can do treatment at night if they work during the day, so don't whine that they have no options. And I call total BS about not getting a job-maybe not the most pleasant jobs are available to them, but if you were locked up for 10 years, nobody is going to hire you right away making 100K running a company.
ReplyDeleteWOW, thanks for your insight. I too have 28+ years in law enforcement. If you want to go tote-to-toe on credentials, I am pretty sure I can hold my own with you. My argument is we have gone through a period in our history where we incarcerated a large number of people and where has that got us. You are probably someone who thinks DARE is a success. When there is a policy that is a failure you need to try something else. I am not saying don't arrest and convict individuals, or hold individuals accountable. Yes our system is much better than others that exist in the world. So that is your reasoning, were better instead of is it working. I do not believe your are a LEO, laws are not passed to DETER, they are there for punishment. Yes, hopefully their experience in jail will DETER future bad choices. Probation is over worked, and YES individuals on probation do have more difficulty in getting jobs, housing etc. Some I have no sympathy for, but there are a lot who need help. Do you really think that just going to treatment will automatically cure you. I hope you never have to deal with drug abuse either in your family or someone one you know., I don't think the person that will need your help could count on you. Your comment on making 100k running a company just further shows you have no interest in a constructive conversation.
ReplyDeleteCAN'T DO TGE TIME DON'T DO THE CRIME.
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