NCJ Number
59161
Date Published
1975
Length
40 pages
Annotation
THE IMPROVEMENT OF ADULT PROBATION AND PAROLE PRACTICES IN GEORGIA, TO HELP OFFENDERS ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR AND REMAIN OUTSIDE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, IS ADDRESSED.
Abstract
THE NUMBER OF PROBATION/PAROLE SUPERVISORS IN GEORGIA IS NOT ADEQUATE. SINCE SUPERVISION APPEARS TO HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON RECIDIVISM, ASSISTING PROBATIONERS AND PAROLEES IN ACHIEVING THE BEST POSSIBLE COMMUNITY ADJUSTMENT IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE IN THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY. PRESSURES FOR CHANGE IN GEORGIA'S PROBATION AND PAROLE SERVICES ARE OBVIOUS IN SIX AREAS: ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROBATION AND PAROLE; PROBATION/PAROLE SUPERVISOR CASELOADS; PAY RATES AND CAREER LADDERS FOR SUPERVISORS; SIZE OF PARDONS AND PAROLE BOARD; CASELOADS OF PAROLE BOARD MEMBERS; AND OFFENDER RELEASE DECISIONMAKING. FOUR ALTERNATIVES ARE RECOMMENDED TO IMPROVE PROBATION AND PAROLE PRACTICES. FIRST THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD UNIFY ALL PROBATION SERVICES BY BRINGING INDEPENDENT COUNTY SYSTEMS INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS/OFFENDER REHABILITATION. SECOND, THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ESTABLISH AN ONGOING RATIO FORMULA OF SUPERVISORS TO OFFENDERS SO THAT OFFENDERS HAVE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF SUPERVISORY CONTACTS AND SUPERVISORS ARE PROVIDED WITH CASELOADS NO GREATER THAN 50 WORKLOAD UNITS AS DEFINED BY THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION. THIRD, THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD PROVIDE PROBATION/PAROLE SUPERVISORS WITH BOTH CLIENT SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRACKS IN THEIR CAREER LADDERS AND INCREASED ENTRY-LEVEL SALARIES. FOURTH, THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ESTABLISH THE PERFORMANCE-EARNED RELEASE MODEL AS A PILOT PROJECT. A PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IS DESCRIBED. THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER STATES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN PROBATION AND PAROLE IS EXAMINED. FOOTNOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)