Recidivism Rates of Those on Probation or Parole

Recidivism of Those on Parole

Probation and Recidivism

Recidivism can be referred to as the tendency of offenders getting back to crime after charges have been pressed against them or even while still serving their probation. It is categorized as a new crime that a felony inmate or a probationer commits (Merriam Webster, 2012). The basic way of measuring recidivism rate is through the frequency of re-arrests, reincarnations as well as the reconvictions that occur.

Various studies give different categories of offenders prone to recidivism above others and at the same time other category of offenders with a greater percentage of success in their probation and lesser recidivism. The success rate is mostly predicted taking into account the personal characters of the offender. Women who have attained 30 years and above are widely noted to have high success rates, further, Cengage Learning Inc. (2009) notes that convicts who have no previous crime records, felony or being subject to probation also hold a relatively high rates of success as compared to perennial criminals.

It is also noted that offenders with professions or even technical skills enabling them to eke a living hence living comfortably within the society also hold a high rate of success in their probation as compared to those probationers who hold no professional training or technical skills to help them in bringing in some income. It is also noteworthy that those offenders who have been successfully through high school are less likely to fall into recidivism as compared to those who did not go through the high school education and this goes to even after the probation time is done.

Another factor that indicates lesser chances of falling into recidivism is the family ties. The offenders who for quite some time lived with their siblings, spouses or even children hold lesser chance of recidivism than those who have not had any special ties to these family members mentioned above.

Additionally, offenders who were put on probation resulting from misdemeanors or petty crimes are said to hold higher possibilities of success in probation as compared to those put on probation resulting from more radical crimes or felony.

Bearing the above findings, it is clear that the social mesh or the community and the extent to which one is integrated into the community contributes a lot to the rate of recidivism or otherwise. Clearly, the society is seen as a pivotal point in making sure that the social environment and the nation at large has fewer cases of recidivism as was noted by South Carolina General Assembly, (2010) in their discussion of ways of reduction of recidivism within South Carolina. This therefore indicates that there is significance in emphasizing on the social network and communal approach toward ensuring there is reduction to the recidivism levels and even fewer crimes being committed.

Impact of probation on recidivism

It must be accepted, though to the chagrin of some, that a stronger and better planned probation has higher chances in significantly reducing the recidivism rates within any society. Dr. Tony Fabelo (2009) notes that the 'justice reinvestment' that he pioneered in Travis County, whose central agenda was to at revamp and rejuvenate the probation process was a clear proof that a well structured and working probation system within each society, that is evidence based and backed by tangible actions was the best way out of recidivism or maximum reduction in recidivism hence the decongestion of the jails within the U.S.A. And even other countries.

Below are the five approaches that are evidence-based as suggested by Fabelo toward ensuring there is a working probation system that is aimed at reducing recidivism:

He suggests the need to establish a centralized diagnosis unit that is equipped with people with specialization on diagnosis dedicated to the center alone. This approach will make sure that on every probationer, there is adequate and consistent follow-up formulated and not the haphazard method with units located separately.

There is also need to have a well structured diagnosis report presented to the courts on a case by case basis. This ensures the courts are equipped with the data of the low-risk offenders, the medium-risk offenders as well as the high risk offenders. This helps the courts to appropriately follow up on the offenders and know the records of each offender hence reducing the possibility of offender falling recidivism as they will be under the watch of the relevant authorities by the community law enforcers depending on the category they are in.

With the appropriate diagnosis, the other logical step is to have a well crafted supervision plan in place that goes in line with the diagnosis made on the individual probationer. The plan is therefore required to have details like the minimum number of hours that the individual on probation is supposed to have with the relevant supervisors in a month, the appropriate program utilization, the relevant special provisions to support the supervision, sanctions relevant to the individual relying on the diagnosis given and in a case where there is violation of the probation by the offender, it is therefore significant to stipulate the expected incentives upon successful completion of the given period and lastly the accountability of the outcomes.