NCJ Number
156072
Date Published
1995
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the organization, caseload levels, and costs of the Illinois probation and parole systems relative to the rest of the United States, with emphasis on the extent to which single agencies administer these services, how caseloads vary across States, and the extent to which the organizational structure affects the costs and effectiveness of these community supervision services.
Abstract
Illinois is one of 18 States where probation services are the responsibility of a judicial branch agency. However, among the 10 largest States, of which Illinois is one, half of probation agencies are in the judicial branch and half are in the executive branch. Illinois is one of 12 States where the probation department supervises adult and juvenile probationers, but no parolees. However, five of the 10 largest States and a total of 30 States provide probation and parole services through the same agency. Although probation caseload rates per adult population were relatively low in Illinois, rates per officer in Illinois were among the highest in the country. Costs per case for combined probation and parole activities were higher in States where probation was carried out at the local level, by executive branch agencies, and in an agency separate from the parole agency. Tables, figures, footnotes, list of organizations contacted, and 10 references