NCJ Number
223135
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 46 Issue: 3/4 Dated: 2008 Pages: 91-100
Date Published
2008
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article presents the findings of a survey of members of the American Probation and Parole Association regarding difficulties they have had in the community supervision of undocumented immigrants in their jurisdictions.
Abstract
The survey found that the number of undocumented immigrants carried on the caseloads of probation and parole officers was significant, with estimates ranging from 1 percent to as high as 85 percent. Given that entering the country illegally is a Federal rather than a State crime, probation/parole officers are required to complete additional paperwork for Federal agencies, conduct additional interviews, and attend court hearings, often requiring interpreter services. Standard community-based services are made more difficult and problematic because of language barriers and restrictions on the employment, healthcare, and social services undocumented immigrants qualify to receive. Undocumented immigrants are unfamiliar with the American criminal justice system; combined with the language barrier, this makes service provision and case management even more difficult. Any solution to the multiple problems encountered by probation/parole officers in their supervision of undocumented immigrants will be complex, time-consuming, and potentially divisive for the Nation. It will require a uniform, cooperative policy and interaction at the Federal, State, and local levels, which must include regular teamwork at the local level and Federal funding for the expanded work of local and State criminal justice systems. These findings were derived from the American Probation and Parole Association's informal request of its members for information on issues related to the supervision of undocumented immigrants in their jurisdictions. The request was made in the summer of 2005. 12 references