SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF BLACK PAROLEES - FROM PRISON TO PRISON (FROM CRIME AND ITS IMPACT ON THE BLACK COMMUNITY, 1976, BY LAWRENCE E GARY AND LEE P BROWN - SEE NCJ-48198)

• NCJ Number: 48213
• Author(s): L A SWAN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Howard University
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FACTORS IN THE PAROLE SYSTEM , THE COMMUNITY, AND THE PAROLEES THEMSELVES WHICH ENHANCE OR IMPEDE THE REENTRY PROCESS ARE DISCUSSED, AND CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL REENTRY ARE LISTED.

Abstract

INTERVIEWS WITH 50 BLACK PAROLEES IN CALIFORNIA AND TENNESSEE PROVIDED MANY OF THE PERSPECTIVES DISCUSSED. THE PAROLEE ADJUSTMENT PRESSURES ARE DESCRIBED AS BEING SO DEBILITATING THAT SUCCESSFUL REENTRY IS UNLIKELY. FACTORS IN THE PAROLE SYSTEM, INTERACTION WITH PAROLE OFFICERS, THE TYPICAL RESPONSE OF THE COMMUNITY TO THE PAROLEE, AND THE SELF-IMAGE OF THE PAROLEE ARE THE MAJOR SOURCES OF NEGATIVE INFLUENCES OPERATIVE IN THE REENTRY PROCESS. THE PRISON EXPERIENCE IS BELIEVED TO REINFORCE OFFENDERS' NEGATIVE SELF-IMAGE, SUCH THAT THEY HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES AS ACCEPTABLE MEMBERS OF NORMATIVE SOCIETY. THE PAROLE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO TREAT PAROLEES WITH SUSPICION, SURROUNDING THEM WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS TO WHICH THEY MUST SUBMIT OR BE RETURNED TO PRISON. THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL IS ALSO SEEN AS RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT THEM AS WORTHY OF TRUST AND INTIMACY. RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK AND IN THE FAMILY BECOME STRAINED AND FORCED. ACCORDING TO PAROLEES, THE MOST DIFFICULT PERIOD IN THE TRANSITION COMES AFTER FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THEIR BEING AROUND AND THEY BEGIN TO DISPARAGE THEIR PAROLE STATUS. ALSO, IT IS NOTED THAT THERE IS LITTLE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT FOR THE SUCCESSFUL REENTRY STEPS TAKEN WITHIN THE PAROLE SYSTEM ITSELF, AND EVEN IN THE FACE OF CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS, THE THREAT OF MISTAKES IS A CONTINOUS REMINDER TO PAROLEES THAT THEY COULD BE SENT BACK TO PRISON AT ANY TIME. THE AMBIGUITIES OF THE ADJUSTMENT PERIOD, AND THE REALISTIC BLEND OF FAILURE AND SUCCESS CHARACTERISTICS OF ANY CHANGE PROCESS ARE IGNORED BY THE PAROLE SYSTEM AND THE PAROLE OFFICER. A LIST OF PAROLE CONDITIONS BELIEVED TO ENHANCE THE PAROLEE'S SELF-IMAGE AND WHICH TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE PRESSURES AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RADICAL CHANGE REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL ADJUSTMENT FROM PRISON LIFE IS INCLUDED. A BRIEF LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.