CRJS 318 Web SiteCRJS 318 Web Site

http://www.odu.edu/al/cpate/index.htm

CRJS 318CRJS 318

Probation, Parole and Community-Based Corrections

Two Books:Community-Based Corrections, MMLCommunity Corrections, JP

Instructor BackgroundInstructor Background

Chris PateMilitaryState GovernmentAcademicPractitioner Perspective

Succeeding In ClassSucceeding In Class

The Easy Way– Read Assignments Generally Before Classes– Attend Class, Participate, Take Notes– Review Material For Understanding

The Hard Way

-Don’t Read Assignments Or Attend Class

-Rely On Someone Else To Carry You

Rules For FairnessRules For Fairness

Verification required for excused late papers and missed quizzes.

Be considerate. Be on time for quizzes and written assignments.

Honor Code is absolute.

Extra CreditExtra Credit

1. Options listed in online syllabus

2. Pre-Approved community service

Provide verification by due date

Getting StartedGetting Started

1. What is the purpose of our CJ System?

2. What is the purpose of incarceration?

3. What is CBC expected to accomplish?

4. Who are the clients served by CJ system?

5. Does our CJ system work as it should?

6. Does CBC accomplish what it should?

7. Does rehabilitation work?

8. Should offenders who commit similar crimes and who have similar backgrounds receive identical sentences?

9. Who is being punished worse by incarceration: offenders or society?

10. How should society decide who is punished and who is not?

11. Should we be as fair and just with criminals as with one another?

12. What is punishment?

13. What is sufficient punishment?

14. Is prison/jail more punitive than probation or parole?

16. If CBC with Intermediate Sanctions punishes more than confinement, and if imprisonment increases criminal outcomes, why not use more CBC?

17. Whose responsibility is public safety?

18. Why do resource allocators (Politicians) not fund CBC better?

19. Who pays the bill?

20. Who cares?

Historical PerspectivesHistorical Perspectives

Public debate on crime has ignored or diminished the role of CBC.

Crime control legislation has all but eliminated consideration of P&P.

Perhaps the only public system in worse shape than education and health care is criminal justice.

Perhaps we should call it the legal system rather than the criminal justice system.

Public debate on crime has ignored or Public debate on crime has ignored or diminished the role of CBC.diminished the role of CBC.

Recent federal crime control legislation– 1994, Most ambitious crime control bill

ever– $22 Billion to expand prisons, lengthen

sentences, hire police, TX– 1995, Increased funding to $30 Billion– Diverted $5 Billion TX money to prison

construction and enforcement

Why is this a problem?Why is this a problem?

The majority of criminals, who happen to be serving sentences on probation and parole, are unaffected.

Discussion

EffectsEffects

Governmental “cutback mentality” and “get tough” mood exacerbate crime.

Caseload SizeCaseload Size

Simplistic SolutionsSimplistic Solutions

“A smart person solves problems. A genius prevents them. CJ is filled with wise people and short of geniuses.”

False DichotomyFalse Dichotomy

CBC Is Partly At FaultCBC Is Partly At Fault

CBC practitioners need to:– Articulate what they do– Evaluate programs for effectiveness– Proactively educate the public

Facts and Alternatives

Challenge: Balanced Challenge: Balanced ApproachApproach

Make better use of taxpayer funds.Recognize incarceration may have a

limited impact on crime rates.Imprison physical threat offenders.Redirect some resources to promising

CBC programs.

How Did The Mess Occur?How Did The Mess Occur?

Human Nature and Immediate Gratification

Think of love– Perfection– Fireworks– Promise of Eternal Bliss– Reality Dawns (Usually)

The Panacea PhenomenonThe Panacea Phenomenon

Prior Panaceas Prior Panaceas The Evolution of CBC The Evolution of CBC

Community Punishments1700’s Quakers, Penitentiaries1870’s Indeterminate Sentence1800’s-1900 Therapeutic Prison1960’s-1970’s Flourishing CBC1980’s-Present Get Tough On Crime1980’s-1990’s Punish and Control

Net WideningNet Widening

During the Flourishing of CBC Period

A Better IdeaA Better Idea

Reasoned ApproachConsensus BuildingRealize TX Is Not A Euphemism For

LeniencyRealize Control, Properly Done, Will Not

Corrupt Reform

FactsFacts

P&P Programs Work When They Are:

Corrections SpendingCorrections SpendingPrison and Jail Spending

– Two Cents of Every State and Local Dollar

Probation and Parole- Two Tenths of One Cent

¾ of Correctional Clients Are In Local Communities

They Receive 1/10 Of Corrections Budgets

Problem, Reality, ResultsProblem, Reality, Results

Problem: President’s Crime Commission

Reality: Average national caseload 150:1

Supervision FailuresSupervision Failures

Offenders who fail under community supervision are the fastest growing component of prison populations.

This costs you $$$$$$$$$$.

Cost ComparisonsCost Comparisons

Effective TX Programs– $12,000 to $14,000 per year

Prison– $18,000 to $25,000 per year

Probation– About $1,400 per year

Expanded Prison PolicyExpanded Prison Policy

Politicians Cite Public Opinion As The Reason For Supporting Expanded Prison/Incarceration Policies.

Fundamental Tenet of Democratic Society– Government and its institutions should reflect

the will of the people.

Problem: What Punishes?Problem: What Punishes?

Problem: What Punishes?– Is requiring a runner to run 5 miles

punishment?– Is requiring a lazy person to stay home

punishment?

Reality: The opinion of the person punished is crucial in determining punishment.

Intermediate Sanctions Intermediate Sanctions As PunishmentAs Punishment

Many offenders consider Intermediate Sanctions more punishing than prison.

Balance, Level and Intensity of IS can be dreaded.– One 10 page research paper per semester– Per week– Per Day

Building ConsensusBuilding Consensus

Common Sense (and Knowledge)

Target Offender Groups That Make Sense– Those that commit the most crime– Those that pose the least physical threat

Consensus (cont’d)Consensus (cont’d)

Answer: Minor Drug Offenders

-Greatest number of offenders

-Drugs generally contribute to crime

-TX reduces crime

What Really WorksWhat Really Works

Results of P&P Cases in TXResults of P&P Cases in TX

Higher success rates and Lower crime rates

Each day of TX pays for itself that day– Crime costs and Health Care costs

Problems to AddressProblems to Address

How to Control Crime

Crime Prevention

De-escalating Criminal Careers

A Bottom Line ProblemA Bottom Line Problem

Federal Crime Control Policy– Provides $$$ to states to support fed policies– Political Leadership and Guts Is A Major Issue

False DichotomyFalse Dichotomy

Tough Law Enforcement vs. CB Prevention

To argue between tough law enforcement and community-based crime prevention is a false dichotomy.

The choice is not one or the other.