Corrections Probation and Parole Probation

Corrections

Probation and Parole

Probation and parole functions have usually gone hand in the correction system, and are often mentioned as one in the same agency. For this reason, a combined agency should administer both these areas. Legislatures and governments traditionally under fund these areas of the corrections function, and combining them would allow a greater number of officers and greater efficiency in monitoring ex-convicts and convicted offenders.

While probation and parole are often mentioned in the same breath, they do serve different functions that ultimately hope for the same goals. The probation function monitors criminals after their release from prison or criminals serving "home" type sentences. For example, a probation officer monitored Martha Stewart after her release from prison and while she was still confined to her home for several months. Probation officers serve the court, and can actually make arrests, take evidence, arrange for drug tests, and aid the offender is his return to society.

A parole board, on the other hand, is the decision making body that decides whether a prisoner has fulfilled their sentence and can be released back into society. They must take into account the prisoner's record, their crime, and their attitude, to make sure the prisoner can function again in society. In addition, depending on the level of offense, a prisoner may be released into parole rather than probation. A parole agent reports to the parole board, and is responsible for their specific offenders when they are released from prison. They study the offenders before they are released, draw up plans and guidelines for them after their release, and even help the offenders find jobs, housing, and whatever else they need to survive on the outside. Both of these agencies have a common goal - to protect the public. They just do it in slightly different ways.

It simply makes sense to blend these two agencies together, since they share much of the same information and both work with ex-convicts and criminals who have been convicted of crimes. In fact, many corrections systems around the country have blended these functions already. Not merging them can have monetary and societal consequences. One Oregon reporter notes, "Court, corrections and probation agencies have grown up with separate databases, separate offices and separate staffs in ways not conducive to a comprehensive, systematic approach to offender management" (Bishop D1). Because parole and probation agencies are often separate entities, they do not share information, such as databases, and because of this, problem offenders can fall though the cracks of the system and become lost or untraceable. In addition, combining these agencies saves public tax dollars, and makes them more effective in the process. These two departments traditionally do not get the same type and amount of financing as other correctional departments, and so, they often are understaffed and unable to effectively monitor all the people they need to monitor. This can be dangerous to the public safety if an offender is dangerous, is released into probation, and then is not monitored. When the public's safety is involved, it just makes sense to combine these departments to make them easier to run, more cost effective, and more efficient in their jobs.