Probation and Parole Phillips 2
Probation and Parole
Topic 1:
Question 1: The intended use of probation and parole was initially to prevent
incarceration. These methods were meant to use restorative justice as a means to punish the
individuals while still concentrating on reintegration and rehabilitation into society. What began
as an alternative for incarceration morphed into a monitoring and surveillance system that did
little to stop overcrowding in prisons or the development of stricter sentencing laws. ‘
Question 2: The alternative motive for probation and parole that now focuses on
surveillance crosses the boundary of individual rights and leads to privacy violations. As
Horowitz mentioned, nearly 2% of the U.S. population is on parole or probation and 30% of this
group are African American (2018). This shows the disproportionate spread these methods have
across communities and how they perpetuate the marginalization of specific individuals. Some
argue that the stricter laws and regulations related to probation and parole are to ensure the
public's safety. “In 2019, the Council of State Governments Justice Center released the results of
a survey of state corrections departments, declaring that probation and parole violations were
“filling prisons” and thwarting reforms to end mass incarceration. Much of the report focused on
prison admissions, finding that half of all state prison entries in 2017 were for people on
probation and parole at the time of the arrest. Among those, roughly half were incarcerated for
technical violations—meaning that fully one-quarter of all prison admissions were for technical
violations” (Phelps, 2023). Due to the stricter laws regulating probation and parole, the number
of individuals entering prisons is on the rise instead of working to lower the number of
incarcerated individuals. These violations are technical which means they are not harming the
community, but minor violations in the fine print of the probationary contract.
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Question 3: The alternative of probation and parole to incarceration is not an easy issue to
tackle. While the initial intent behind these programs is something I think helps prevent mass
incarceration and rehabilitate the offenders, what these methods have morphed into lessens their
effectiveness. When the purpose behind probation and parole was to help the offenders through
substance abuse treatment, mental health treatments, anger management, and community service
with a focus on reintegrating the individuals back into the community, these methods were
viable. As we look at parole and probation today, the effort to help the offenders by
understanding the underlying cause of their crime has vanished into solely monitoring and
punishing the individuals when they break the strict guidelines implemented for them. Romans
13:1 says “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority
except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God”. The criminal justice system
does need revision in certain areas. It is important to continue following the rules and regulations
to keep our communities safe.
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References:
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/
Phelps, M. S., Dickens, H. N., & Beadle, D. A. T. (2023). Are Supervision Violations Filling
Prisons? The Role of Probation, Parole, and New Offenses in Driving Mass Incarceration.
Socius, 9. https://doi.org/10.1177/23780231221148631
Horowitz, J. (2023). States Can Shorten Probation and Protect Public Safety. Public Safety
Performance. The Pew Charitable Trusts. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-
analysis/reports/2020/12/states-can-shorten-probation-and-protect-public-safety
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References
Lastname, C. (2008). Title of the source without caps except Proper Nouns or: First word
after colon. The Journal or Publication Italicized and Capped, Vol#(Issue#), Page
numbers.
Lastname, O. (2010). Online journal using DOI or digital object identifier. Main Online
Journal Name, Vol#(Issue#), 159-192. doi: 10.1000/182
Lastname, W. (2009). If there is no DOI use the URL of the main website referenced.
Article Without DOI Reference, Vol#(Issue#), 166-212. Retrieved from
http://www.example.com
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