Classification and Supervision in Probation and Parole Chapter 6 Classification and Supervision in Probation and Parole

Introduction Supervision is an officer’s oversight of clients committed to his or her custody Probationers nationwide: 60%-direct sentence to probation 30%-suspended sentence 9%-split sentence Most sentenced for drug or alcohol violation 77% men/23% women 55% white/31% African American/12% Hispanic/2% Native American or Asian/Pacific Islander

Neighborhood-Based Probation Supervision In NBS, probation officers are in the community more than the office and engage community groups as partners and collaborators Emphasis is on public safety Probation officers are community organizers NBS and traditional probation supervision share involvement in surveillance and development of prosocial behaviors

The Surveillance Function in Probation Supervision requires the officer to: Notify the offender of the conditions and consequences for noncompliance Provide surveillance to ascertain compliance Methods of surveillance include: Unannounced and announced visits Curfew Electronic monitoring Phone verifications Graduated sanctions Collection of urine samples for drug testing

Developing Prosocial Behaviors Supervision must address the barriers that result in recidivism and assist in positive behavioral change, such as: - building on an offender’s strengths - assisting with employment - integrating family as informal social controls

Classification: The First Step in Supervision Classification requires the probation officer to: Use an objective assessment scale to compute the risks posed by the offender Identify offender needs requiring intervention Select appropriate supervision strategies Highest priority is placed on identifying risks that would jeopardize public safety

Classification: The First Step in Supervision, cont. Actuarial Risk Assessment The LSI-R, CMC and COMPAS are among the available assessment tools The LSI-R includes static and dynamic factors Identifying Treatment Needs - The officer identifies those characteristics, conditions or behaviors that limit motivation and may lead to criminal behavior

Classification: The First Step in Supervision, cont. Identifying Treatment Needs, cont. Treatment needs include drug or alcohol abuse, mental illness, anger management or education or vocational deficiencies The officer identifies treatment activities to address the needs and bring about law-abiding behavior

Classification: The First Step in Supervision, cont. Developing the Case Plan Supervision issues addressed in the plan may involve: Conditions imposed by the court Risk control Treatment

Classification: The First Step in Supervision, cont. Levels of Supervision Most classification systems use the traditional categories of maximum, medium and minimum The categories specify the smallest amount of contact requirements Factors of contacts include: Type of contact Location of contact Frequency of contact

Classification: The First Step in Supervision, cont. Caseload and Workload Standards - A caseload is the number of individuals or cases one officer can effectively supervise - The more intensive the supervision, the lower the caseload - The APPA recommends a workload standard of 120 hours per month - The workload standard concept is preferable to allow for comparison, research and interpreting work to legislators and others

Specialized Caseloads Specialized Caseloads have proven to be effective for: Drug offenders Gang members Sex offenders Offenders with mental illness About 5% of probationers and parolees are classified under a “special” caseload

Interstate Compacts on Probation The original compact was signed in 1937 by 25 states and was ratified by all states by 1951 The Interstate Compact for Juveniles was established in 1955 The Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision began in 2000 Under provisions of the compact, there is no requirement for an extradition hearing