Diversity: Prisoners, Parolees, & Probationers Research Paper

Introduction

There are a plethora of at-risk social groups which require special considerations, attitude, awareness, and social work practice. Quite often these at-risk groups face various impressions and thus act differently. Indeed, it depends on a society they settle down in; however, they need more attention and patience in social practices.

The paper sheds light on the at-risk group “prisoners, parolees, and probationers” as they face different things in the prison and reality after duress or court trial. Primarily this research paper will focus on the impact of victimization, loss of freedom and possessions, life after prison, and the U.S. prison system in general.

In fact, the situation of prisoners, parolees, and probationers are unclear and full of deprivations within prisons and various repressions and deluding consequences. Hence, the paper covers all these topics to look into the situation of this at-risk group.

At-risk Population

I have selected prisoners, parolees, and probationers since they have different peculiarities, the way of lives, social skills, and lives within prisons/societies in comparison to healthy society.

Prisoners

Some prison critics argue that prisons contain too many offenders who do not need to be incarcerated (Latessa et al., n.d.). The authors say that some law enforcement officials put wrong offenders into the prisons with the hope of crime drop in the modern world. Hence, there are a vast number of prisoners kept in the prisons without any reliable evidence or for petty crimes. Moreover, some crimes are considered as serious, though they are not. For instance, a person robbed a small shop with a BB gun without showing it or pointing at a cashier, yet he/she still has a long sentence in prison (though, it is a small crime). Such petty crimes turn out to be “dangerous” and “serious” which put specific labels on offenders. Thus they face the unfairness and weak defense from the prison system.

For example, in medium-security prisons, offenders do not have the right to work, and guards keep an eye on every their movement and action. Another instance can be supermax prisons where is the strict and thorough surveillance and security. Prisoners may be fed through a slot in the door, forbidden to speak with other prisoners or to have pictures of family members in their cells. They can be kept in their cells 23 hours a day and allowed out only into an exercise “cage” where they have a few square yards to walk (Latessa et al., n.d.).

There is a list of some deprivations within the prison life:

Parolees

The adult parole population increased by 12,800 offenders from yearend 2014 to yearend 2015, to an estimated 870,500 offenders (Kaeble et al., U.S. Department of Justice, 2017). The Parole Board along with parole programs take into account various cases (except for murder) where they can grant inmates with liberty due to appropriate behavior. Failure to do so can lead to reincarceration (Latessa et al., n.d.).

 In the same breath, the situation of parolees is not that perspective and efficient as it may seem. Inside the prison inmates want to change, so they improve themselves. However, in the first period of parole, they are bound to come back to previous crimes. It is still unclear whether it happens due to past situations or the indifferent attitude from officials.

If to consider a fact of a drug-addict inmate deserving parole, then he/she needs a particular treatment not to be under arrest anymore or not to use drugs further. Some studies show that “fewer parolees received treatment in an outpatient setting (81.2% vs. 86.8%) and more received residential care (18.8% vs. 13.2%); parolees had fewer days of outpatient (90.2 vs. 126.8) and residential (88.9 vs. 115.4) treatment; and fewer parolees received 90 or more days of treatment (38.4% vs. 53.5%); completed treatment (24.2% vs. 38.0%); or did either (44.3% vs. 58.5%)’ (Evans et al., 2011).

The essential thing of parole is to take care of an inmate. Due to some negligence of officials, people can be rearrested or reincarcerated. It is important to note that many of the failures on parole supervision are a result of technical violations (TVs); that is, failure to abide by the conditions imposed by the parole board (Latessa et al., n.d.).

Probationers

The whole probation term of the convicted person is controlled by the authorized state body, which supervises the correction of the convict’s behavior and in every possible way helps him/her to re-educate. It is desirable that during this time the probationer manifested self in public works and established himself as a reliable person. These traits of character at the end of the probation term will necessarily be recorded in the characteristic.

If the probationer behaved diligently during the suspended term, was able to prove to the inspectors of the supervisory authority, then at the end of the time all restrictions are automatically removed, and the court declined the probation. However, if in the future a person needs a certificate of criminal record (for example, for employment or permission to purchase, store and use weapons), then this certificate will indicate that the citizen had a criminal record, served a suspended sentence, restrictions were removed. Though, it is the challenge for a person in the future.

Self-awareness

I do believe that everyone has a chance to be better and the justice should encourage people to do that. Indeed, there are no excuses or allowances for sexual assault or murder, but even the most dangerous criminals can change for the best. There are some cases when inmates become either worse and dangerous or better and obedient. I reckon that offenders should have the same treatment as ordinary people, as we are all human beings.

With the help of numerous articles and information in the class and the network, three things impressed me the most:

  • Law enforcement officials specially put small and big criminals into the prisons having the same sentence.
  • The low level of need and services. Indeed, it depends on the prison itself, but there is a vast deficit of services.
  • The unwillingness of officials to deliver appropriate care to inmates during a sentence or parole.

Social Work Practice

Ethics and high morale are the critical factors to every successful interaction. It does not matter whether a person communicates with a businessperson or a population at risk. What I am trying to say is that ethical considerations should be the priority in delivering care. Disdainful attitude will not change the whole situation, but understanding and agreement.

Social practice is vital for this at-risk group. It would be wrong to expect ideal mental health after constant surveillance and imprisonment within four walls. I think there should be social officials (psychologists, physicians, other social workers) to communicate and be involved with prisoners, parolees, and probationers. It is significant 1) not to restrict people by their race, color of skin, religion; 2) be loyal and interactive with them.

For instance, a child psychologist Camila Batmanghelidjh wanted to create the center for “wild” children and thus recruited ex-criminals (gangsters and drug dealers), as she thought that they would be much better in dealing with problematic children and adolescent. Such action is well-meaning, and no way had it turned to be something terrible – the opposite, they managed to coexist, and the center had some benefits of such recruitment.

Looking forward

To understand all premises and details of each subgroup, there should be more studies and considerations to understand the core meaning and problem. To become comfortable with this population, I along with other people should be more loyal and less captious. Everyone makes mistakes, but the most important is to gain more information and perception of an offender before contacting them.

I think social workers should know more about them than anyone because they are the only people who communicate with them and try to solve their inner guilty and depression due to some circumstances. I do not want to make allowances for criminals, but I think the more social workers help them and pass their experience to future generations, the more the law system will be fair.

References

Berecochea, J.E., Himelson, A.N. & Miller, D.E. (1972). Risk of Failure During the Early Parole Period: A Methodological Note. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 63 (1). Retrieved from https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com.ua/&httpsredir=1&article=5772&context=jclc.

Evans, E., Jaffe, A., Urada, D. & Anglin, D.M. (2011). Differential Outcomes of Court-Supervised Substance Abuse Treatment Among California Parolees and Probationers. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol, 56(4). doi:  10.1177/0306624X11404827.

Kaeble, D. & Bonczar, T. P. (2017). Probation and Parole in the United States, 2015. BJS Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved from https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ppus15.pdf.

Latessa, E.J., Smith, P., Whitehead, J.T., Dodson, K.D. & Edwards, B.D. (n.d.). Prisons, Probation and Parole in America: How Punishment Changes Behavior. Routledge. Retrieved from https://www.crcpress.com/rsc/downloads/Prisons%2C_Probation_and_Parole_in_America.pdf.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]
close
Haven't found the right essay?
Get an expert to write you the one you need!
print

Professional writers and researchers

quotes

Sources and citation are provided

clock

3 hour delivery

person