Pew-Reforming Parole and Probation
Advocates will tell you with certainty that parole and probation agencies should use evidence-based practices like intermediate sanctions for violations instead of revocations (i.e., returns to court or the parole commission for violation hearings) and will insist that most violations are for technical reasons (i.e., not reporting, not making restitution, escape) rather than new crimes. Most suggest that higher-risk offenders should be a priority regarding resource allocations. They embrace cognitive behavioral theory as effective. parole and probation supervision
The data below challenges those assertions.
Pew-Reforming Parole and Probation
The verbiage below from Pew provides an overview as to changes they support as to parole and probation strategies.
Since late 2020, at least 20 states have passed measures to update and improve their community supervision systems. That these efforts moved forward during this historic period reflects the scope of the issue: At the end of 2020, almost 3.9 million Americans—or 1 in 66 adults—were on probation or parole, more than double the number in jails and state and federal prisons (1.8 million).
Pew-Reforming Parole and Probation
Several state reforms focus on three key objectives:
- Reducing probation time.
- Changing rules on revocation.
- Lowering or eliminating fees.
These goals are highlighted in The Pew Charitable Trusts’ brief,
“Five Evidence-Based Policies Can Improve Community Supervision.”
It assesses how 50 states enacted five key policies.
These policies are part of a larger set,
over 50 policies from Pew and Arnold Ventures’ 2020 framework.
State and local officials can use them to improve supervision systems.
US Sentencing Commission Evaluation – Federal Offenders
Federal agencies supervising offenders have focused on “evidence-based” practices for 10-15 years.
Federal parole and probation agencies have smaller caseloads and better resources.
Program examples include:
- Intermediate sanctions
- Motivational interviewing
- Building trust with offenders
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Risk assessments APA