Putting Public Safety First: 13 Parole Supervision Strategies To Enhance Reentry Outcomes

• NCJ Number: 249738
• Date Published: December 2008
• Length: 72 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2005-RE-CX-K148; CJ-2233-07
• Agencies: BJA-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Report (Grant Sponsored); Instructional Material; Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review

Annotation

This report draws on research, promising practices, and the "best thinking" from the field of community supervision to present 13 strategies that promote effective and achievable approaches to the community supervision of persons released from prison.

Abstract

The 13 strategies are divided into two categories. One category focuses on effective organizational-level strategies, and the second category explains individual-level strategies. The seven organizational-level strategies first note the importance of defining a successful parole as recidivism reduction. This requires defining and collecting data on performance measures related to recidivism. Organizations should also aim to tailor supervision conditions to the needs and risks posed by the individual parolee. Related strategies suggest focusing resources on moderate and high-risk parolees and the intensification of supervision and resources in the initial days, weeks, and months of parole. Also, implement earned discharge, which involves providing incentives for meeting case-specific goals of supervision, which can include early discharge for lower risk parolees. Place-based supervision is also recommended, whereby officers interact with parolees in the neighborhoods where they live and work. In addition, given the treatment, health, housing, education, and employment needs of the parole population, it is recommended that parole supervision agencies partner with other government and private agencies to provide multidisciplinary services that meet the needs underlying offending behavior. The six strategies proposed for individual-level supervision involve the assessment of criminogenic risk and need factors; the development and implementation of supervision case plans that balance surveillance and treatment; and the involvement of parolees in their assessment, case planning, and supervision. Other suggested individual-level strategies are the use of informal social controls, incentives and rewards, and graduated, albeit swift, responses to parole violations. 111 references and appended citations for sources of information on the various strategies