Assignment:
Respond with 150 words and 2 references with 1 being the textbook, biblical reference
Cullen, F. T., & Jonson, C. L. (2017). Correctional theory: Context and consequences (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Parole is the release of a prisoner who agrees to abide by certain conditions. Some states choose to change the label, and it is known as Mandatory Supervised Release or MSR. Parole comes from the French word parole meaning "promise." Parole is a state-level initiative and conditional release from confinement of an offender serving a prison sentence. The term was used during the Middle Ages with the release of prisoners who gave their word on a ticket of leave (Bartollas, 2014). Parole was the reintegration step to our communities. The catch and release then repeat methodology was popular when the pendulum swung to the get tough on the crime side. Despite efforts to treat common problems in incarcerated offenders, a vast majority still return shortly after their release (Wilson, 2005).
Fifty-two percent were back for parole violations or new charges within three of their initial releases (James, 2012). The crime control model of the seventies threw America into a prison building frenzy. The price of incarcerating inmates was growing, and prisons were packed full. Other alternatives had to be found to try to alleviate recidivism and keep offenders from violating parole or committing new crimes. We have learned from our extended reading that in the early eighties, the correctional systems were trying to solve some of the problems by having treatment programs in correctional settings ran by contractual agencies. Re-entry was starting to become a familiar terminology in the correctional facilities and parole arenas. Most re-entry programs had limited effectiveness in effecting reoffending (Martin, 1999). The essential components for re-entry to be successful are:
1. Switching from a parole mentality to a treatment re-entry thought process. Instead of parole agents just being an extension of the police force to arrest and revoke parole privileges.
The agents need aftercare skills to assist the offender in helping themselves and control behaviors. This kind of action counters the mass incarceration caused by our get-tough legislation.
2. The community has to buy into community supervision and because the community has a stake in assuring the offender does not continue on the criminality path. Changing how a citizen feels about released offenders is one of the hardest elements to implement. The programming begins in the correctional facilities by instituting the necessary skills and education. The trick is to reinforce those learned skills, so the offender lives in that manner.
The offender will need assistance to face personal and situational problems. This support system includes assisting this released citizen in acquiring employment, housing, counseling, and, if possible, family support (Cullen 2017). The offender will have a smoother transition returning to community life.
3. Legislators have to direct money to these aftercare services for those programs to be effective. If not, the programs will eventually wither and become cost-cutting targets when budgets are tight.
4. Develop plans that will assist the offender in securing housing with a two-year support program. Housing and employment are the two significant factors limited to released offenders. I recommend giving employers significant tax breaks for hiring and training released offenders in their communities. In this scenario, everybody wins. The employer saves money and gets a highly trained employee at the same time. The city receives a tax- paying citizen who participates in community life.
Galatians 6:9-10 says, let us not become tired in doing good when it is time we will be rewarded if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people. The message of the Bible is that God's forgiveness overcomes all acted upon temptations a person does. Jesus offers forgiveness of sin and deliverance from evil. No one is ever beyond redemption. As a community, we don't give up on ex-offenders even when it seems they will never change. We encourage and support those that God brings to us.
References
Bartollas, L. S. (2014). Corrections Today. Belmont: Wadsworth.
James, T. H. (2012, March 8). Inmates Returning to the Community after Serving Time.
Martin, S. B. (1999). Three Year Outcomes of Therapeutic Community Treatment for Drug Involved Offenders. The Prison Journal, 294-320.
Wilson, J. A. (2005). Bad Behavior or Bad Policy.
Cullen, F. T., & Jonson, C. L. (2017). Correctional Theory: Context and Consequences (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications Inc.
Holy Bible: New International Version