This article identifies the factors that have contributed to the slow but steady increase in probation violations that result in Federal imprisonment, as well as the factors that Federal probation officers consider in response to violations; and the article also provides information on some of the key strategies used in probation and pretrial supervision to reduce recidivism.
One factor in the growing rate of probation violations is the large number of illegal aliens subject to probation who are deported and are then revoked when they illegally reenter the United States. Another factor is the increase in the number of probationers, which correlates with an increase in the number of probation violations; and a third factor is the higher risk profile of the probationer population. In addition, probation violations have increased due to advancements in surveillance technology, policy guidelines, and training that improved the ability of probation officers to detect violations. Violations that result in imprisonment are not typically minor misbehaviors, and they often follow noncompliance with lesser sanctions and intensified treatment. Still, Federal inmates serving sentences due to probation violations constitute only about 6 percent of the prison population, and the increase in the use of probation has produced an overall decrease in the growth rate of the prison population; however, budget cutbacks under sequestration have impaired the ability of probation services to expand staff and caseloads, thus undermining a further decrease in costly and ineffective imprisonment. 4 figures, 4 tables and 62 references