1. Criminal Justice System Components: Locating Probation and Parole
Chapter 1
Criminal Justice System Components: Locating Probation and Parole

2. Criminal Justice System Components: Locating Probation and Parole
The criminal justice system consists of law enforcement, the courts, and corrections
Personnel who work in probation, parole, and community corrections are heavily involved in offender supervision and operate programs designed to rehabilitate or reintegrate offender-clients
These personnel are also expected to supervise and assist clients with the purpose of making them law- abiding citizens

3. Criminal Justice System Components: Locating Probation and Parole
Probation officers and parole officers often fail to achieve these personal and departmental objectives
The reasons their clients fail, however, are often beyond their direct control

4. An Overview of the Criminal Justice System
Entry into the criminal justice system begins with the commission of a crime, followed by an arrest
If there are successful prosecutions of defendants by prosecutors, they will be found guilty and sentenced by judges

5. An Overview of the Criminal Justice System
Probation is a sentencing option imposed by judges in lieu of incarceration
Probationers are allowed to remain free in the community but must adhere to certain probation conditions for a period of time
Parole, on the other hand, is an early release from prison or jail permitting convicted offenders back into the community again with restrictions and conditions

6. An Overview of the Criminal Justice System
Regardless of whether an offender is on probation or parole, there are certain program conditions that must be obeyed…If not, probation or parole can be revoked
A parole revocation means that parolees may be returned to prison for some or all of the remainder of their original sentences
A probation revocation may also mean incarceration, or it can mean a more intensive form of supervision by probation officials

7. Probation Officers and Parole Officers (POs)
Enforcing the conditions of probation and parole are probation and parole officers, often referred to as POs
Offenders are required to report to their PO regularly and to comply with rules and regulations
POs often collaborate with community agencies that provide special services for offenders

8. Probation Officers and Parole Officers (POs)
Depending on the jurisdiction, POs may be assigned to supervise:
(1) adult probationers and/or parolees
(2) juvenile probationers and/or parolees and/or
(3) offenders with special needs
POs therefore perform many duties, but their primary responsibility is the management and supervision of nonincarcerated offenders

9. All Probationers and Parolees Are a Part of Corrections
Corrections is the aggregate of programs, services, facilities, and organizations responsible for the management of people who have been accused or convicted of criminal offenses
Some offenders may receive treatment for their needs or problems in a jail or prison

10. All Probationers and Parolees Are a Part of Corrections
More often than not, inmates are influenced by those they associate with while they are confined
These association may not be positive or therapeutic
The criminogenic environment of prisons and jails and social interactions with other inmates often leads to and explains probation and parole program failures

11. Types of Offenses Felonies
Major crime that carries a potentially severe penalty of one or more years in prison or jail and fines
Usually statutory penalties are associated with all felonies and include both fines and/or incarceration in a state or federal prison
Includes arson, murder, rape, burglary, robbery, vehicular theft, and aggravated assault

12. Types of Offenses Misdemeanors
Minor or petty offenses that carries less severe penalties compared with felonies
May result in fines and/or incarceration for less than one year
A misdemeanant is someone who commits a misdemeanor
Includes making false financial statements, prostitution, shoplifting to name a few

13. Types of Offenses Violent crimes
Characterized by extreme physical force, including homicide, forcible rape, child sexual abuse, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, robbery, and arson
Also referred to as crimes of violence or crimes against the person
Persons are directly involved as victims and affected emotionally and physically as a result of the crime

14. Types of Offenses Property crimes
Nonviolent offenses such as burglary, vehicular theft, embezzlement, fraud, forgery, and larceny
Although persons are victimized by such offenses, their lives and physical well being are not directly jeopardized by these offenses

15. Classifying Offenders
Prisons and Jails
Officials use various classification schemes to determine the level of institutional custody for inmates:
Who should be isolated (Violent)
Mentally Ill
Suicide Risks
Escape Risks
Predators

16. Classifying Offenders
Probation and Parole
PO’s have a vested interest in classifying offenders for the appropriate level of community supervision
Type of Criminal History
Mental or Physical Impairment
Personality Disorders
Alcohol or Drug Dependency
Treatment Needs

17. Traditional Offender Categorizations
First offenders
Those offenders who commit one or more crimes but have no previous history of criminal behavior
No useful generalizations can be made other than they have no prior history of offending

18. Traditional Offender Categorizations
Recidivists
Offenders who continue to commit new Crimes
Even after they have been apprehended, prosecuted, and incarcerated, these are the many offenders who continue their criminal activity when released

19. Traditional Offender Categorizations
Career criminals
Offenders who earn their living from the crimes they commit
Career Criminal have reached a stage where they view crime as an occupation
Their criminal activity is a craft that requires expertise and special training
Many, however, are more bothersome than dangerous, thieves, burglars, vandals

20. Criminal Justice System Components
Law enforcement
Arrest—taking a suspect into custody
Booking—administrative procedure to gather information on offenders for law enforcement officials
Bail—surety to procure the release of those under arrest to ensure they will appear to face charges in criminal court

21. Criminal Justice System Components
Prosecutorial decision making
Prosecutions—examination of case by prosecutor to determine if enough evidence exists for prosecution:
Screening and prioritizing cases—determining which cases are most worthy of prosecution as well as which have the highest probability for conviction
Plea bargaining—preconviction agreement where the defendant pleads guilty in exchange for leniency or concessions

22. Criminal Justice System Components
Courts and judges
Judicial workloads—court calendars are full of cases in many jurisdictions
Case processing—defendants are entitled to a jury trial as a matter of right in criminal proceedings, most convictions are obtained through a plea
Sentencing—those defendants found guilty are sentenced by a judge, who has several options, including incarceration or probation

23. Criminal Justice System Components
Corrections
Jail and prison overcrowding—frequently there is little room in prisons and jails
By 2006, 33 states were under court order to reduce their prison inmate populations

24. Criminal Justice System Components
Corrections
Availability of community services—Most citizens equate criminal punishment with incarceration, despite the fact that a majority of offenders are never incarcerated
Depending on availability of community services, these offenders are allowed to remain in their communities doing community service, paying restitution, and attending educational or vocational training