Karla Bedeau

Monroe College

CJ 202

2019/06/30
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Role of Probation in Criminal Justice

I. Introduction

Probation happens to be the most common form of punishment used in the United States as

a means of Punishment for a small offense and to some criminals who served hard jail sentences

and was granted parole after serving their time in prison. I believe that probation is very important

to some cases that are lesser offense and to juveniles. As a criminal justice major, I hope to one day

work within the probation section and help rehabilitate children back into society by giving them a

second chance. Often, as a society are quick to point a finger, look down upon a person and judge

rather than come together to help make a change in the lives of some criminals. This topic is

important to me because I have watched some young men and women in my community

downward spiral for minor offenses because of the stigma of having a criminal record.

A. Highlighting the importance of probation in the criminal justice system

Probation can get used the systems approach, as this principle can incorporate the

embedded system such as corrections, probation, and parole, private security, and police

administration (Philips, 2013). Instead of checking each sub-section in its own spectrum, this

system will include how the individuality aspects interrelate. Intricate connections will get
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simplified, in view of how they also work independent, and interdependently to the nature of the

environments in which the court options come into play. Today’s criminal system works as an

open system. Lawyers, judges, and even the plaintiffs are unwrapped to interpretation of the law,

in regards to specs of case detailing. International, local laws, and previous rulings, are subject to

different explanations, in the case of ambiguous legal ruling scopes. If it was closed, then one

ruling would become final, and could not be overruled (“Politics of Career Criminals,” n.d).

B. Distinguishing between probation and parole

Significant difference between probation and parole is the segmentations of the timing.

Probation happens before the prison time occurs, whereas parole signifies an early release from

prison. People tend to confuse the two due to their closeness, and in a way the public might at

times confuse both probation, and parole. In both instances, they are close checking via

supervision that follows specific guidelines as well as rules.

Probation

During case ruling, probation is given to an individual in the confines before a pre-

destined sentence is handed to them. Such chances are granted for the persons for them to prove

that they can get rehabilitated back into the society. Specific instructions are laid down, and

every single one of them needs to get ascertained (Philips, 2013). When the probation individual

acts in good behavior, the sentence will not come to fruition, and this holds them from going to

jail. The sentences get served from confines of a specified location area. The advantages are in

the line of suspension of the actual sentencing which would lead to automatic jail time. In the

event that the defendants go contrary to the judge’s instructions, then they will get sent to prison

to finish of their sentence, or actually get handed over a new sentence all together.
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Parole

Here the defendant gets an early release from prison. Natures of an early release come as

a result of good behavior. Conditions upon such releases make it paramount that they need to

keep in line with prepositions such as continuing to pay fines, stay at a halfway house as well as

other financial related obligations (Philips, 2013). The defendant reports to their assigned parole

officer. Their behavior is checked throughout all this time. They do this on a regular basis, and

the parole officer gives the information to the parole board. In this spectrum, the board does

analyze the defendant’s behavior, and can unanimously agree to send them back to prison,

extend the parole period as well and early parole ending.

C. Probation scope

II. Pros

A. Cost-effectiveness: Saves the taxpayer $23,000 per probationer per year

Tax payers get to save a lot of money for every probation action done. It is so because the

jail system is not made to crowd. With such individuals serving part of their sentences outside

the jail settings, the correctional system end up saving money that could get used to cater for

them. In these conditions, actions done are set aside to make to make it in the line of division

sentencing that is foregone (Travis & Stacey, 2010).

B. Minimal rehabilitation of offender's in order to become productive members

of their communities
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In such precipitation of rehabilitation, the offenders who get a minimal rehabilitation

option get a platform to better enter back in societal spheres. It makes a lot of sense putting such

actions into practice. The law of minimal returns comes into play. In view of the latter, where a

specified scope in gearing the affected individuals to get reintegrated back to society, puts a seed

of hope. These are what make the offenders at a section of understanding that no matter what is

happening or has happened in their lives, there is hope of going back to the community they are

from.

C. Maintenance of family and community ties contributes from engagement to

criminal activity

As offenders get the chance of not having total isolation from the society, it helps in keeping

them in check. It is proven that when they have those who care most about them in constant

sight, it aids in the continuum of mending their ways (Travis & Stacey, 2010). Such is prevalent

as the thought of having all that taken away at a glance, helps them avoid compromising

situations. Some individuals tend to shy away from crime when they know that they have people

counting on them, as well as looking out to them.

D. Recovery of drug addicts through rehabilitation programs

Most offenders are in a cycle of never ending and future coming destruction. Drugs have

stood as a main tie to criminal activities. According to the ADAM II report of 2008, marijuana

stands as the highest abused drug among most if not all the arrestees. Asymmetries of similarities

have been ongoing in trends of keeping up with criminality increasing every single day. What

can get done is using rehabilitations to assist them in getting better, and step by step leaving

behind such vices.

E. Keeping their jobs, participating and contributing to the community instead

of being a burden to the taxpayer

A better citizen is better than an incarcerated citizen behind bars. The higher the number of

inmates behind bars increases the higher the loss of potential revenue that could have gotten

earned. It is not only for the government, but the whole nation. If they can avoid jail time, it

makes it easier for losses, which grow into millions of dollars lost in the time of their when

serving their sentences.

III. Cons

In as much as probation has its numerous advantages, there are always different sides to a coin.

Even the best of systems always have a measure of negativity scope. Disadvantages can get as

the ones listed below.

i. Poor and inadequate supervision of offenders, as it is not a 24 hour supervision.

ii. Community safety issue for example in reoccurrence or repeat of the criminal

issues.

iii. High recidivism rates

iv. Victim concern problems, as they fear retaliation.

IV. Suggestions for improvement

A. Hiring of more probation officers

With more adequately trained and monitored probationers, the criminal justice system will have

a lighter load (Jastram, 2014). They will assist in clearing the backlog of cases as well as strain

on the current probation officers. Utilizing the economies of scale concept, where the larger the
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quantities ordered in a business, lowering the price, it can still get utilized in the correctional

system (“Politics of Career Criminals,” n.d).

B. Ensuring dangerous criminals do not benefit from probation since they are

more likely to revert to crimes

Analysis done for the more likely criminals getting back to the community gets to be put to light.

Not every criminal is fit to get released back. It makes it safer if they stay in the system until they

finish their sentences. For examples, hardened criminals who have committed heinous crimes

such as murder, rape, or human trafficking cannot get changed by just mere probation. Putting

the benefit-loss ratio into play is always the best course of action in situations of exponential

potential losses occurring against members of the situation.

C. Civic education

Joint civic education to community members need to get conducted. It will move to

encourage them to accept probationers back in their communities. Appropriate measures need to

get actualized in order for it to get the results. Perceptions play a major role in what happens

when the community or how the community sees offenders who either on probation or parole. If

it is a complex view, it will make it harder to get them to accept the offenders (Jastram, 2014).

On the other hand if they get to see the offenders as equal members of the society who made

mistakes, paid or are paying for them in the hope of making themselves of benefit to the

community, then it will be a win-win situation.

V. Conclusion
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A. Future of the probation alternative is seemingly bright in the US Justice

System

It is quite interesting to see how the probation scenery has been at work in the past years.

Probation has shown that it works in means and measures. When at probation, and getting to

avoid jail-time in on way keeps the reality of it, to have actualization in realism. Realities of

getting incarcerated, by getting a second chance to make things right have a more positive

important issue of perception for individuals. The actual incarceration in a way hardens the

criminals, making it a little more difficult to integrate them back to society (“Reintegration in

practice,” 2017). It also serves as a lesson, and skill nature that can actually get utilized for good.

Probation requirements in most instances have the community service aspect. Community

service stands as a measure to make them work, or give back to the society.

B. Rehabilitation

The improvement of rehabilitation programs and close monitoring will adversely reduce

the recidivism rates which are currently standing at 65%. Intricate natures of rehabilitation are in

actual sense a part of society getting the necessary push to make a turn-around for the better. It

puts crime committing, and getting back into the society that much easier. Studies have shown

that if not put into action, and given the path mentality of how to get integrated back into society,

most individuals tend to end up in similar cycles of crime (“Reintegration in practice,” 2017).
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References

Jastram, K. (2014). Left Out of Exclusion: International Criminal Law and the 'Persecutor

Bar' in US Refugee Law. Journal of International Criminal Justice, 12(5), 1183-

1199. doi:10.1093/jicj/mqu077

Phillips, D. (2013). Probation and Parole. doi:10.4324/9781315877365

The Politics of Career Criminals. (n.d.). Career Criminals in Society, 103-142.

doi:10.4135/9781452204383.n5

Reintegration in practice. (2017). Reintegrating Jihadist Extremist Detainees, 73-106.

doi:10.4324/9781315189024-5

Travis, L. F., & Stacey, J. (2010). A half century of parole rules: Conditions of parole in the

United States, 2008. Journal of Criminal Justice, 38(4), 604-608.

doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2010.04.032