- Reasons for and against parole and probation officers having arrest powers and the right to carry firearms.
Parole and probation officers engage with aggressive offenders and work in high risk and hazardous areas. They usually experience violent incidents including threats, attacks by the offender’s dogs, physical violence and resistance from arrest, so they need to carry firearms for personal defense and have arresting authority. According to the National Center for Policy Analysis, criminals under community release commit approximately 15 murders per day hence proper arming and arrest powers is necessary in defensive situations. Arming probation and parole officers assist in arrest situations and transportation of offenders otherwise the police would have to be involved. Probation and parole officers need arrest powers of offenders who violates the terms of parole and probation. Arrest applies when it is necessary to send them back to jail.
Some agencies allow probation officers to carry firearms when on duty. However, arming and giving arrest powers to these officers conflicts the role of parole and probation officers. It can increase retaliation against them by offenders and conflicts as the community becomes unsure of their role as law enforcers or social workers. Some probation officers also prefer not to have arrest powers and a right to carry firearms. These officers cannot play both roles of counselors and law enforcers.
Upon release from prison, ex convicts should reintegrate back into the society and probably get a job. However, most employers will be reluctant to hire them due to their past criminal records. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 title VII protects against discrimination against color, gender, national origin, religion and race and applies for employers who have 15 and more employees. This title of the Act rules as illegal policies that deny people jobs based on arrest without convictions. Similarly, policies that deny people with criminal records employment especially where minorities apply are illegal. Minorities get arrested and convicted more than another race refusal to hire on the basis of criminal record is illegal and discriminating (Abadinsky, 2012). The title VII dictates that employers cannot use criminal records as part of a screening process for employment, promotions, layoffs and training. It also prohibits discrimination in pay as well as in the terms and conditions of employment involving ex convicts. The act dictates that employers cannot discriminate ex convicts based on their past criminal records and deny them employment. Although states and local jurisdictions have laws that regulate or prohibit employment of individuals with criminal records, they still face liability under title VII.
- Basic duties of probation and parole officers.
Parole and probation officers supervise and guide offenders released on probation or parole programs in order to overcome their criminalist factors. They also assist offenders and enforce requirements as dictated by the parole commission and the courts. They also aid in coming up with presentence investigation report through investigating the offender records. This provides guidance to the court in coming up with an appropriate sentence. Probation and parole officers prepare pre-parole investigations that involve talking with family, complainants, police and wardens to the offender's behavior and records while in prison. They help in the rehabilitation of parolees through effective reintroduction in the society. This can be accomplished through monitoring progress and helping parolees acquire, training, jobs and necessary social skills. These officers have a duty to arrest parolees and probationers if they violate the terms of their release. Other minor duties include curfew checks, employment verification and conducting home visits. They also coordinate services of treatment, collect the cost of supervision, testify in court proceedings and investigate alleged violations. All the information gathered during their duties compiles a report and in the event of violation; the report gets filed with the court or commission of pardon and parole.
- How to teach a class about risk/needs assessment
The criminal justice system requires substantial supervision of offenders released to community service programs hence qualified parole and probation officers should be hired. Essential skills for parole and probation officers include education qualification, communication and critical skills. Risk assessment in the criminal justice system helps to make arrest decisions, to defer prosecutions and make charging decisions. Risk and needs assessment information used in sentencing decisions consider offenders risk and management. Initial risk needs assessment should be done as per the probation order. Each convict admitted into the correctional system should be assessed to obtain comprehensive information necessary in identifying the right intervention need. Assessment defines the immediate risk and need, level of service, general planning needs, transitional needs and responding factor. Offenders identified as being at risk of self and others should have their problems addressed immediately (Abadinsky, 2012). The immediate risk needs assessment should be accessed to identify any history of self harm or suicidal behavior. This information should be noted in the offender's file. According to the risk principle, high risk offenders should receive intensive supervision and service and vice versa. The needs principle requires treatment service to concentrate on factors most associated with criminal behavior.
- Top two most weighty qualities of a probation and parole officer
The most valuable qualities of parole and probation officers include good judgment and listening skills and computer and report writing skills. Good communication, listening skills and nonjudgmental are essential qualities since these officers work with different and diverse personalities from varying backgrounds. Over and above the ability to communicate well with a parolee, the officer should be nonjudgmental and one who possesses the ability of associating with people of diverse backgrounds effectively. He or she should be approachable and possessing good listening skills. Another key quality is the computer and report development ability given that a job of a parole and probation officer involve a lot of paperwork and development of many reports. Therefore, excellent computer and office skills are essential to facilitate gathering information and writing reports on diverse cases. The officer should have the ability of tracking each case according to respective court dates and paperwork as needed. Other qualities include calm, mature and confident, observant and alert and a team player who values integrity and procedures (Abadinsky, 2012).
- Describe how intensive supervision works and findings of recent research on the topic
Intensive supervision requires offenders with serious offenses and those posing severe rehabilitative needs to address extensively the causes of their crimes under intensive insight from a probation officer. Operation Eiger targets high risk youths with violent, drug and weapon offenses. An outpatient substance abuse program evaluates the needs of probationers and recommends appropriate treatments. On the other hand, Sexual offender treatment program provides community based offenders with counseling services. Offenders spend approximately one year in the program under 3 levels of supervision. In level 1, the offender adheres to individual curfews and schedules and enjoys limited access to the community. In level 2, the offender still adheres to curfews and schedules but enjoy more access to society and recreational activities. The third level allows transition to a traditional supervisor and curfews and schedules gets relaxed.
Recent research has indicated the importance and effectiveness of intensive supervision programs based on the human service philosophy, and that provides treatment to offenders. Research has also identified the ability of the program to produce meaningful effects on recidivism. Intensive supervision programs based on effective intervention and guided by human service philosophy are effective at reducing recidivism (Latessa et.al, 2010). The program effectiveness may be increased through training of staff and administrators in correctional facilities.
- Boot Camps
Boot camps are disciplinary correctional in-prison programs aimed at rehabilitating offenders (Abadinsky, 2012). They characterize rigorous training, physical activities, manual labor and activities that ensure no free time. Offenders get sentenced to boot camps to undergo six months disciplinary training program, and upon completion they immediately get released on parole. Boot camps lead to positive changes in attitudes, perceptions, behavior and skills of offenders. This program reduces prison population through early release. It also leads to correctional cost reduction. However it negatively affects juveniles by instilling incompetent leadership skills and feelings of power. People subject to harsh training and yelling end up using the same on their children. It also fails in reducing recidivism, provides short term reality check and offenders end up resentful.
For effectiveness, boot camps should delineate programs expected to elicit desired behavioral changes. This calls for careful definition and selection of the study population based on a goal of reducing recidivism, rehabilitation and punishment. In cases of multiple monitoring, each agency's responsibilities should be spelled out well, and the program should have consistent and continuous staff training. Boot camps should be redesigned to cater for only those inmates who would have had higher chances of incarceration. They should include intensive treatment and last for longer periods. More research should be encouraged to increase the effectiveness.
- Shock incarceration, purpose and its effectiveness.
Shock incarceration refers to a short term alternative program of incarceration for the first time non violent offenders only. Eligibility to this case depends on the length of sentence and must be, not more than 50 years. Offenders in this program serve longer periods than in boot camps and undergo extensive scrutiny and shock treatment. The program involves military style training, classes, anger management and drug substance abuse counseling. It serves the purpose of rehabilitating rather than punishing offenders through enhanced discipline and getting them off criminal paths. Some states also utilize the program with an aim of clearing prisons, helping convicts stay off trouble and reduce the cost of running correctional facilities and resource management. The program also serves a purpose of ensuring improved effectiveness of correctional intervention.
Research has produced a mixed feeling on the effectiveness of this program. For example, the program is effective in cases of alcohol abuse but ineffective in impacting cases of illicit drug use. Shock incarceration lacks effectiveness and has potential of staff abusing inmates. The research further concludes that the program effectively changes the attitudes of inmates, but it does not lead to a reduction in recidivism. The effectiveness of the program in reducing recidivism increases with increases in the level of education. However, shock incarceration successfully leads to reduction of overcrowding and minimization of costs of running correctional facilities.
References
Abadinsky, H.(2012). Probation and Parole: Theory and Practice (11th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Latessa, E., J. Lowenkamp, T. Flores, W. Holsinger, A., M & Makarios, M., D.(2010). Intensive supervision programs, does programs, philosophy and the principles of an effective intervention matter? Journal of criminal justice. (38) 368-375
