Parole Officer Decision-Making Before Parole Revocation: Why Context Is Key When Delivering Correctional Services

Back-end sentencing is the discretionary, administrative process through which individuals on parole are returned to prison for violating the requirements of their supervised release. Parole officers play a crucial role in this process as they are the witnesses to the rule-breaking behaviors of people on parole supervision and ultimately must initiate the back-end sentencing process. This study explores predictors of parole officer decision-making when determining whether to consider a person for revocation or to gear programmatic community-based resources toward them in an attempt to decrease the likelihood of their eventual revocation. Our results indicate that if people released to parole are front-loaded programmatic resources as a part of their release conditions from prison, the odds that parole officers subsequently gear community-based programs toward them decreases by approximately 60%. Other factors such as demographics, actuarial risk levels, and criminal history were not significantly predictive of officer decision-making in this context.

A scalable empathic supervision intervention to mitigate recidivism from probation and parole

Incarceration is a pervasive issue in the United States that is enormously costly to families, communities, and society at large. The path from prison back to prison may depend on the relationship a person has with their probation or parole officer (PPO). If the relationship lacks appropriate care and trust, violations and recidivism (return to jail or prison) may be more likely to occur. Here, we test whether an “empathic supervision” intervention with PPOs—that aims to reduce collective blame against and promote empathy for the perspectives of adults on probation or parole (APPs)—can reduce rates of violations and recidivism. The intervention highlights the unreasonable expectation that all APPs will reoffend (collective blame) and the benefits of empathy—valuing APPs’ perspectives. Using both within-subject (monthly official records for 10 mo) and between-subject (treatment versus control) comparisons in a longitudinal study with PPOs in a large US city (NPPOs = 216; NAPPs=∼20,478), we find that the empathic supervision intervention reduced collective blame against APPs 10 mo postintervention and reduced between-subject violations and recidivism, a 13% reduction that would translate to less taxpayer costs if scaled. Together, these findings illustrate that very low-cost psychological interventions that target empathy in relationships can be cost effective and combat important societal outcomes in a lasting manner.

PATTERNS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CONFIDENTIAL SUPERVISION AND GUIDANCE DURING THE ASIMILATION PROGRAM AT HOME

In writing this paper the author discusses the Implementation Pattern of Supervision and Guiding Prisoners During the Assimilation Program at Home. It is motivated that the Parole Officer also has an important role in providing supervision and guidance to correctional clients who get assimilation programs at home. To carry out their duties and functions as supervisors and mentors, it is not uncommon for Parole Officer to experience a variety of external and internal obstacles. The purpose of the research conducted is to describe and analyze how the pattern of guidance and supervision carried out by the Parole Officer.In writing this paper the method of approach used is sociological juridical means a study conducted on the real state of society or the environment of the community with the intent and purpose of finding facts which then leads to identification and ultimately to the resolution of problems. Then the data obtained were analyzed in a descriptive quantitative manner, namely the problem solving procedure by describing the data that had been obtained. The results of research conducted that the way of guidance carried out by the Parole Officer is the interview method using the Whastsapp video call to minimize face-to-face activities. Whereas the guidance provided by Parole Officer Bapas Kelas II Pati is to use the individual guidance and group guidance methods In carrying out the guidance program, there are several factors from clients that are the cause of repeating the criminal acts again, namely economic factors and narcotics dependency factors. Efforts are being made to overcome this problem, namely: by immediately revoking the assimilation program at home and put it into a straft cell according to Permenkumham No. 10 of 2020.

Examining the Parole Officer as a Mechanism of Social Support During Reentry From Prison

Emerging research has shown that the parole officer, much like friends and family, can be an important source of social support for returning persons. While this body of literature is growing, existing research provides little insight into understanding how specific types (e.g., interpersonal and/or professional) of parole officer support matter. Using panel data from the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative, results of mixed-effects models demonstrate that greater levels of parole officer support are associated with decreased odds of reincarceration. Furthermore, parole officer professional support (e.g., providing correct information) exerts a more robust effect than interpersonal support (e.g., listening and caring). Findings suggest policy makers should consider programming to strengthen the professional relationship between the parole officer and returning person.

Power, anxiety, and relationships between returning citizens and parole officers

Summary This study evaluates the relationships between parole officers and ex-prisoners, who return to communities after incarceration (returning citizens). We measured returning citizens’ anxiety about meeting their parole officers and the ways in which they prepare for their meetings. We relate anxiety levels to developing a therapeutic alliance, client confidence that their parole officer is working in their best interest, client truthfulness about their housing and work status, and client optimism about their reentry process. To measure returning citizen anxiety and experience with parole officers, we carried out a survey of returning citizens (N = 193) in Philadelphia just before they were to meet their parole officers. Findings The results illuminate the ways that anxiety has significant negative impact on the quality of the working relationship between returning citizens and their parole officers but not precautionary behaviors. Returning citizens who reported higher anxiety prior to meeting their parole officer tend to report lower therapeutic alliance, less confidence that the parole officer works on their behalf, and less truthfulness. Implications Our findings provide more insight into what needs and challenges people on parole and probation face and outline new ideas about which of these factors parole officers should attend to in order to improve the services they provide. We call for parole officers to be cognizant of the anxiety that people under probation face and the need to make them feel supported and at ease. We also call for social workers in most countries to take a more active role in the provision of parole and probation services.

Can Social Support Overcome the Individual and Structural Challenges of Being a Sex Offender? Assessing the Social Support-Recidivism Link

Social support is important for individual’s successful reentry; however, little is known about how it operates or is influenced by individual and structural factors. Understanding how social support matters for individuals convicted of a sex offense is especially important as they may have a different reentry experience due to the nature of their crime and post-conviction restrictions. This study examines the nature and effects of instrumental and expressive social support from family, friends, intimate partners, and parole officers on recidivism for a sample of men convicted of sex offenses using mixed methods. Results show that family, friend, and intimate partner support had no effects on recidivism, however participants reporting a positive relationship with their parole officer were more likely to return to prison. Qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews sheds light on how the nature of these relationships might explain the social support-recidivism link in a high stakes population.

Parolee–Parole Officer Rapport: Does It Impact Recidivism?

Parole officers are an integral part of parolees’ reentry process and success. Few studies, however, have examined whether the quality of the relationship between parolees and their parole officer influences outcomes such as recidivism. This study assesses how recidivism is affected by the quality of the relationship that parolees have with their parole officers. Using the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) dataset, we use parolees’ perceptions of their relationship with their parole officer to determine whether they have established a positive or negative relationship, and whether these types of relationships differentially affect recidivism. Results show that parolees who have a negative relationship with their parole officer have higher rates of recidivism, while a positive relationship lowers parolees’ likelihood of recidivating. An implication of this study emphasizes parole officer training that develops positive, high-quality relationships with parolees. Further implications are discussed below.