Corrections Chapter Twelve Reading Unit Eight Seminar Corrections Chapter Twelve Reading

Probation is granted every day in U. S. courts Probation is granted every day in U.S. courts. It is considered a "front end sentence," where instead of incarceration the convicted offender is given an opportunity to voluntarily participate in a court supervised sentence.

An individual granted probation is often convicted of nonviolent property crimes. Other considerations for probation are past criminal history, obligations to support a family, the ability to work and be self-sufficient, and the willingness to abide by the rules of the court. (Main Points-Unit 8)

Depending on where you live (like where I’m at in the Chicago/Cook County Court System) there are times when convicted offenders receive probation based on overcrowding issues.

Cook County is one of the largest counties in the U. S Cook County is one of the largest counties in the U.S. with over 100 municipalities. Other counties are more conservative in their sentencing guidelines.

Offenders have received supervision, drug school and probation as a sentence. Should offenders receive probation for any felony offense?

Please give me the ideas behind presentence investigation.

Presentence investigations are conducted by probation officers prior to the court handing down a sentence and include a thorough background investigation of the individual under consideration.

The background investigation includes an assessment of the individual’s mental health, employment history, drug and alcohol use, past criminal history, and his or her participation in prior probation sentences. (Main Ideas-Unit 8)

Should courts use Home Confinement more?

Please define and give me information regarding restorative justice……..

Here are the high points regarding restorative justice Here are the high points regarding restorative justice. This will be multiple posts……………. Crime is injury. Crime hurts individual victims, communities, and juvenile offenders and creates an obligation to make things right.

All parties should be a part of the response to the crime, including the victim if he or she wishes, the community, and the juvenile offender. The victim’s perspective is central to deciding how to repair the harm caused by the crime.

The community is responsible for the well-being of all its members, including both victim and offender. All human beings have dignity and worth and all are given equal protection and due process.

Restoration -- repairing the harm and rebuilding relationships in the community -- is the primary goal of restorative justice.

Results are measured by how much repair was done rather than by how much punishment was inflicted. Crime control cannot be achieved without active involvement of the community.

It is basically attempting to make the victim whole again.

Let’s talk about residential community corrections (RCC). Please tell me what this term refers to…….

Residential Community Corrections (RCC) is defined as "a freestanding non-secure building that is not part of a prison or jail and houses pretrial and adjudicated adults.

The residents regularly depart to work, to attend school, and/or participate in treatment activities and programs."

Does it make you uncomfortable to think that a RCC could open in your own neighborhood? Typically, they are non-violent offenders.

Parole pertains to the status of a convicted offender who has been released from prison by a paroling authority before the expiration of his or her sentence, is placed under the supervision of a parole agency, and is required to observe the conditions of parole.

Should offenders serve out their full term and Parole be eliminated?

What are some of the advantages of Probation?

Lower cost, Increased employment, Restitution, Community support, Reduced risk of criminal socialization, Increased use of community services and Increased opportunity for rehabilitation.

What are some of the disadvantages of Probation?

Relative lack of punishment, Increased risk to the community and Increased social costs.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Is the probation system outdated and too soft?

How is probation/parole changing? What does the future hold for them?

Creating new kinds of reentry systems Creating new kinds of reentry systems. Under this model, sentencing judges oversee an offender's sentence from the time of conviction and imprisonment through the release into the community under supervision.

Thanks for your time tonight. That is all I for you. Questions, Comments, Concerns???

Class Dismissed.