PAROLE IN CALIFORNIA - A THREE-YEAR EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW MODEL

• NCJ Number: 53400
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 44 pages
• Corporate Author: California State Dept of Corrections
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CALIFORNIA'S EFFORTS TO UPGRADE PAROLE SUPERVISION, INTERVENTION, AND MANAGEMENT ARE DOCUMENTED.

Abstract

THE PAROLE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION OF THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS UNDERTOOK A 3-YEAR EXAMINATION OF THE ENTIRE PAROLE PROCESS. PAROLE LITERATURE WAS REVIEWED, AND INPUT FROM PAROLE STAFF, PAROLEES, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND CONCERNED CITIZENS WAS SOUGHT. THE INFORMATION OBTAINED PROVIDED THE BASIS FOR SEVERAL EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS AIMED AT DETERMINING WHAT ACTIONS FAVORABLY AFFECT THE POSTRELEASE READJUSTMENT OF ADULT OFFENDERS. A MAJOR CONCERN WAS WHETHER VARIOUS METHODS OF SUPERVISION AND INTERVENTION WOULD DECREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF RECIDIVISM. IN ADDITION TO THE PILOT PROJECTS, THE DIVISION IMPLEMENTED A SERIES OF MANAGERIAL CHANGES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY, EQUITY, AND COST EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PAROLE PROCESS. THE OVERALL EFFORT RESULTED IN THE FOLLOWING POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS: (1) A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE RISK EACH OFFENDER PRESENTS TO THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE MADE PRIOR TO RELEASE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE TYPE OF SUPERVISION REQUIRED; (2) HIGH LEVELS OF SUPERVISION AND CONTROL SHOULD BE TARGETED AT HIGH-RISK OFFENDERS; (3) RAPID AND CERTAIN INTERVENTION, INCLUDING RETURN TO PRISON FOR GOOD CAUSE FOR HIGH-RISK OFFENDERS, SHOULD BE STRESSED; (4) MEASURES TO DETECT AND CONTROL SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG PAROLEES SHOULD BE EXPANDED; (5) LEGISLATION LENGTHENING THE PAROLE PERIOD FOR CERTAIN HIGH-RISK OFFENDERS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED; (6) SELECTED LOW-RISK OFFENDERS SHOULD BE GRANTED MINIMUM SUPERVISION STATUS; AND (7) FIELD STAFF ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE REORIENTED FROM A GENERALIST APPROACH TO A FUNCTIONAL SPECIALTY APPROACH. A NEW PAROLE MODEL BASED ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IS PROPOSED. THE MODEL REPRESENTS A CONSIDERABLE REDIRECTION OF RESOURCES AND A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM TRADITIONAL MODES OF OPERATION, BUT THE NECESSARY REORGANIZATION CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT ADDITIONAL COST AND WILL IMPROVE PAROLE SUPERVISION. THE REPORT OUTLINES THE BACKGROUND OF THE EVALUATION, THE PILOT PROJECTS AND MANAGEMENT INNOVATIONS, MAJOR FINDINGS, AND THE PROPOSED MODEL. A 36-ENTRY ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)