The parole system is designed to alleviate the State’s burden of providing for inmates. It is also designed to provide rehabilitative services to the convicted criminal and to ease their re-integration back in to society.
Parole boards are responsible for the selection of prisoners, who are eligible for parole, supervision of parolees and the parole system, ruling on the successful completion of parole and the determination if violations or parole have been committed and if parole should be revoked. (Siegel & Sienna, 2005)
The Benefits of Parole
According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, “The fee to cover the average cost of incarceration for Federal inmates is $21,926.” (U.S. Bureau of Prisons, 1999) For fiscal year 1999-2000, the fee in Florida was $18,272 (Florida Department of Corrections, 2000). The costs associated with each prison include food, shelter, clothing, education, and other programs such as therapy and rehabilitation. Other costs include those to maintain the facilities and pay the staff.
The Florida Department of Corrections reported an annual cost of $1,149.05 per parolee. (Florida Department of Corrections, 2000) This is a significant savings versus the costs of incarceration.
Parole is a reward for inmates who exhibit good behavior while in prison. It provides an incentive to behave well, thus making it safer for inmates, visitors, staff, and administrators.
Parole can provide offenders with supervision in the community and access to community-based treatment programs while serving out the remainder of their sentence helping the offender to re-integrate into the community as a law-abiding member.
Problems with Parole
Despite having been exposed to treatment programs and other attempts to normalize the offender to society offenders are often sent back to the same conditions that may have caused them to turn to crime in the first place. For example a convicted gang member and drug offender will return into the same community and will likely socialize with the same friends who will reinforce gang culture.
Parolees also have the stigma on being an ex-con, and will have difficulties finding employment. Additionally spouses and friends may choose to shun the offenders removing their support system.
The Parole Board
Parole boards usually consist of qualified individuals with backgrounds in criminal justice, psychology, sociology, and criminology. Members of State Parole Boards are appointed by the State Governor and/or State Congress.Conclusion
Parole is a cost effective alternative to incarceration. The goal of parole is to transition the offender back in society and prevent recidivism. Often this goal fails because the offender is reintroduced to the same influences that caused the offender to commit a crime.
References
Siegel, Larry., Senna, Joseph. (2005). Introduction to Criminal Justice. Thomson Wadsworth.
Bureau of Prisons. (1999) Bureau of Prisons Annual Determination of Average Cost of Incarceration. United States Department of Justice Press.
Florida Department of Corrections. (2001) Frequently Asked Questions: How much does it cost to incarcerate an inmate for a year? Retrieved July 22, 2005 from http://www.dc.state.fl.us/oth/faq.html
APA Citation:
Smith, Nathan. M. (2005). American Parole System.
Retrieved September 8, 2008, from http://www.computer-forensic-technician.com/wordpress/american-parole-system/.
