A
New Policy and Criteria for Parole Release
Leslie
K. Penny
Chancellor
University
Module
5.1 written Assignment #2
Abstract
Conditions for release
play a significant role in the lives of parolees and those of the public in
that they dictate the rules a parolee must follow in order to maintain their
release from prison and become a part of the community once again. The following essay will provide an
explanation of policies that will be incorporated in the conditions of a
parolee's release.
A
New Policy and Criteria for Parole Release
Conditions for release play a significant role in the
lives of parolees and those of the public in that they dictate the rules a
parolee must follow in order to maintain their release from prison and become a
part of the community once again.
Strategies are in place to assist inmates in the readiness for their
release but upon release, parolees must follow their own strategic plan. One that is laid out by the corrections
commissioner with an updated policy and criteria for parole release. The following essay will provide an
explanation of policies that will be incorporated in the conditions of a
parolee's release.
Upon reviewing the general conditions of release for
parole which are established by the United States Parole Commission, new ideas
are hard to come by as many conditions have already been put to practice. But, in order to fulfill the duties given to
me by the governor, I would review the conditions of release that are in place
and try to expand on those ideas. Of
course, our number one priority in the conditions of release is public
safety. I would incorporate a few
tactics that are used in Texas and Kansas to help curb their ever rising prison
population without "jeopardizing public safety" by allowing for the
"early release of inmates who complete specified programs, more
sophisticated community supervision of offenders, and expanded treatment and
diversion programs (States ponder early release for
some prisoners, 2009).
I believe expanding the condition that a parolee
"shall not leave the geographic limits fixed by the certificate of release
without written permission from a Supervision officer" (Parole:
General Conditions of Release, 2013) will help those
parolees that need to get away from an environment that only hinders their
conditions of release. There are many
factors that can contribute to why a parolee may want to leave the judicial
district they are in and I do not want the parolees to feel they are restricted
from a better environment by having to follow an unreasonable list of
requirements. However they must
immediately report to their parole officer in their new district by a
prescheduled date or face the consequences.
Because of our advanced technology and easy access to
social media networks I would want to incorporate some type of online program
for parolees to easier report in with their probation officers. This only applies to those that have access
to the internet and want to utilize this program. According to UScourts.gov, "the
defendant shall report to the probation officer and shall submit a truthful and
complete written report within the first five days of each month" (Understanding
the Requirement of Supervised Release and Probation Supervision). I would like to extend the parolee reporting
to their probation officer to within the first five days of every two
weeks. Once I month, I feel, is too far
until the next report. Too many things
can happen or go wrong for a parolee with that amount of time. Twice a month if not more would be more
beneficial for the parolee.
The more basic conditions will be enforced for parolees
to include:
· Parolee
shall not violate any laws;
· shall
not associating with those engaged in criminal activity;
· shall
not associating with individuals who have a criminal record without expressed
permission by assigned supervision officer;
· shall not drink
alcoholic beverages in excess;
· shall not purchase, possess,
sell, manufacture, use or distribute any controlled substances or drug
paraphernalia unless such usage is pursuant to a lawful order of a practitioner
and you promptly notify your Supervision Officer;
· shall not frequent
places where such drugs are illegally sold, dispensed, used or given away and
· shall not own, possess,
use, sell, or have under your control any firearm, ammunition, or other
dangerous weapons (Understanding the Requirement of
Supervised Release and Probation Supervision).
It is for the benefit of the parolee to answer all
questions asked by their probation officer truthfully and always follow the
instructions of their probation officer to ensure the parolee is following the
conditions of their release (Understanding the Requirement of
Supervised Release and Probation Supervision). Another important requirement is that the
parolee understands he/she can be searched at any time as well as their
residence , "with or without a warrant, and with or without a reason" (Parolee
Conditions, 2013). The parolee must also allow visits by the
Supervision Officer to their residence and place of business or occupation and
will allow any confiscation of materials that the Supervision Officer believes
to be a violation of parole (Parole: General Conditions of
Release, 2013).
Another important condition of release is weather a
parolee can get into the job force. I
would not find that they are violating their parole if they cannot find a
job. In this economy, regular Joes have
a hard enough time finding a job, let alone someone who's on parole. However, I would require a list of places
they have put job applications in for unless they are excused by the
Supervision Officer or are enrolled in school or some type of training program.
To conclude, one cannot stress enough the importance of
following all of the conditions for release to parolees. They must make a conscientious effort to
"satisfy any fine, restitution order, court costs or assessment and/or
court ordered child support or alimony payment that has been, or may be,
imposed, and shall provide such financial information as may be requested, by
one's Supervision Officer, relevant to the payment of the obligation" (Parole:
General Conditions of Release, 2013). The list is extensive and one that many
parolees find hard to follow to the T.
It is unrealistic to say some of these requirement should be relaxed a
bit because that defeats the purpose of parole but there would be less people
on parole and less people in the prison system if the policies were not so
strict. There needs to be a happy medium
that satisfies the courts and the public.
Works Cited
Parole: General Conditions of Release. (2013). Retrieved 08 04, 2013, from CSOSA:
http://www.csosa.gov/supervision/types/parole/release-conditions.aspx
Parolee Conditions. (2013). Retrieved 08 01, 2013, from Californial
Dept of Corrections and rehabilitation:
http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Parole/Parolee_Conditions/index.html
States ponder early
release for some prisoners. (2009,
01 10). Retrieved 08 04, 2013, from NBC News:
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28592088/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/t/states-ponder-early-release-some-prisoners/#.Uf6WPG01lW0
Understanding the
Requirement of Supervised Release and Probation Supervision. (n.d.). Retrieved 08 04, 2013, from UScourts.gov:
http://www.rip.uscourts.gov/rip/pretrial/understandingthereqs/UnderstandingtheRequirements.pdf
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