How to Improve Parole

Parole can help alleviate the problem of overpopulation in prisons.

Parole is a period of supervision that a person who has been released from prison must complete as part of their sentence for committing a crime. The prison system is notoriously overpopulated and costly to taxpayers, making parole an attractive option for those seeking to decrease these problems. While parole can be an effective way to monitor former inmates, the parole system still has plenty of room for improvement.

Instructions

1. Provide reentry services. By definition, a parolee is a person who has been released from prison. It is important to provide incarcerated individuals with the education and skills they need to successfully return to society. This can include general literacy education, vocational programs, substance abuse counseling and mental health treatment. Also, helping future parolees learn basic life skills and secure housing and jobs prior to parole can make the transition to society much smoother, which can result in higher success rates and a decreased risk of committing future crimes.

2. Distinguish between high-risk and low-risk parolees. It goes without saying that low-risk parolees may not need as much supervision as high-risk parolees, who typically pose a greater safety risk to society. Prioritizing high-risk cases can help parole officers utilize their time and resources most appropriately while ensuring that all offenders are being supervised adequately. Low-risk offenders can be supervised less frequently and have fewer conditions of parole, which will save the court system and parole officers time and money.

3. Lighten the load for parole officers. Parole officers are overwhelmed with large caseloads and, as a result, they are unable to meet the demands of the job. This often means that parolees are not supervised adequately, more mistakes are made and parole officers get stressed and burned out, leading to high turnover. Using electronic monitoring systems to track parolees or hiring interns to help with cases can ensure that parolees are still supervised appropriately and that each parolee is given the attention necessary to maintain community safety.

4. Create incentives for parolees to be successful. Offer parolees the opportunity to reduce their sentences by completing education or vocational programs. This concept benefits the parolee in that it provides him the skills needed to find a job, which can help reduce recidivism. Reduced recidivism rates mean that less time and money will be spent on people who would have otherwise been incarcerated or on parole.

References

• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation:CDCR Implements Public Safety Reforms to Parole Supervision, Expanded Incentive Credits for Inmates
• Boston.com; "Rage Shouldn't Drive Parole Reform"; Nancy Gertner: March 19, 2011
• "Boston Magazine"; Patrick's Parole Folly"; Jean Trounstine; August 2011
• BI Inc.: Solutions for Parole Agencies