Discuss post do both as separate attachments
Recidivism is a real problem in America’s society. Offenders are being released and all too often go back to a life of crime and end up back in prison. There are many reasons for this, but most can be attended to the lack of other viable options to survive. Offenders especially those convicted of sex offenses are limited to the jobs they can work and places that will allow a convicted felon to reside (Gideon & Sung, 2013, p.240). Also, with the type of crime that have been committed, people are not often willing to befriend them. This is understandable, yet one must ask themselves if given the same situation, would not one be prone to behaving in the same manner? Given the facts there is a need to go beyond the typical probation officer that is in a way a type of police officer. That is one that views their job as that of having a more social service approach to probation.
Healy (2012) gives an example of this program working in the Irish Probation Service called the desistance program. This program gives offenders opportunities to reintegrate into society through services that are offered through probation officers. Not all offenders are willing to work through the program but those that do, probation officers provide social support to those that are attempting to move away from a criminal lifestyle. An example of this was given in that a probation officer encouraged an offender to return to pursuing education. The offender was not sure that they were ready but afterwards the push that was given caused them to attain feats that they did not believe was possible. All people struggle with insecurity, some hide it better than others but to have a person in one’s corner pushing them and showing that they believe in them is a great way to achieving the success in the program.
To be able to meet the needs of the offenders there will need to be training provided to probation officers. As Masters, Way, Gerstenfeld, Muscat, Hooper, Dussich, and Skrapec (2017) point out that probation programs are measured by recidivism but keys to success will be tied to risk assessment and supervision that meet the specific needs of each offender (p.415). Probation officers need to understand the clientele that they are dealing with and what makes them tick. An idea would be having specialists who supervise offenders based on the crimes that they have a tendency to commit. Then provide the assistance, surveillance, and frequent contact with others that have shown success in battling their problems and addictions, would be beneficial and help the offenders know that it is doable and people are out there to see that they succeed (Latessa, 2018).
References
Gideon, L., & Sung, H. (2011). Rethinking corrections: Rehabilitation, reentry, and reintegration (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Healy, D. (2012). Advise, Assist and Befriend: Can Probation Supervision Support Desistance? Social Policy & Administration,46(4), 377-394. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9515.2012.00839.x
Latessa, E. J. (2018). Probation and Parole: Supervision - Social Work or Law Enforcement? Casework Supervision Versus Brokerage Supervision, Casework Supervision, Brokerage Supervision. Retrieved from http://law.jrank.org/pages/1852/Probation-Parole-Supervision.html