crjs 318 web site
TRANSCRIPT
CRJS 318CRJS 318
Probation, Parole and Community-Based Corrections
Two Books:Community-Based Corrections, MMLCommunity Corrections, JP
Instructor BackgroundInstructor Background
Chris PateMilitaryState GovernmentAcademicPractitioner Perspective
Succeeding In ClassSucceeding In Class
The Easy Way– Read Assignments Generally Before Classes– Attend Class, Participate, Take Notes– Review Material For Understanding
The Hard Way
-Don’t Read Assignments Or Attend Class
-Rely On Someone Else To Carry You
Rules For FairnessRules For Fairness
Verification required for excused late papers and missed quizzes.
Be considerate. Be on time for quizzes and written assignments.
Honor Code is absolute.
Extra CreditExtra Credit
1. Options listed in online syllabus
2. Pre-Approved community service
Provide verification by due date
Getting StartedGetting Started
1. What is the purpose of our CJ System?
2. What is the purpose of incarceration?
3. What is CBC expected to accomplish?
4. Who are the clients served by CJ system?
5. Does our CJ system work as it should?
6. Does CBC accomplish what it should?
7. Does rehabilitation work?
8. Should offenders who commit similar crimes and who have similar backgrounds receive identical sentences?
9. Who is being punished worse by incarceration: offenders or society?
10. How should society decide who is punished and who is not?
11. Should we be as fair and just with criminals as with one another?
12. What is punishment?
16. If CBC with Intermediate Sanctions punishes more than confinement, and if imprisonment increases criminal outcomes, why not use more CBC?
17. Whose responsibility is public safety?
18. Why do resource allocators (Politicians) not fund CBC better?
19. Who pays the bill?
20. Who cares?
Historical PerspectivesHistorical Perspectives
Public debate on crime has ignored or diminished the role of CBC.
Crime control legislation has all but eliminated consideration of P&P.
Perhaps the only public system in worse shape than education and health care is criminal justice.
Perhaps we should call it the legal system rather than the criminal justice system.
Public debate on crime has ignored or Public debate on crime has ignored or diminished the role of CBC.diminished the role of CBC.
Recent federal crime control legislation– 1994, Most ambitious crime control bill
ever– $22 Billion to expand prisons, lengthen
sentences, hire police, TX– 1995, Increased funding to $30 Billion– Diverted $5 Billion TX money to prison
construction and enforcement
Why is this a problem?Why is this a problem?
The majority of criminals, who happen to be serving sentences on probation and parole, are unaffected.
Discussion
Simplistic SolutionsSimplistic Solutions
“A smart person solves problems. A genius prevents them. CJ is filled with wise people and short of geniuses.”
CBC Is Partly At FaultCBC Is Partly At Fault
CBC practitioners need to:– Articulate what they do– Evaluate programs for effectiveness– Proactively educate the public
Facts and Alternatives
Challenge: Balanced Challenge: Balanced ApproachApproach
Make better use of taxpayer funds.Recognize incarceration may have a
limited impact on crime rates.Imprison physical threat offenders.Redirect some resources to promising
CBC programs.
How Did The Mess Occur?How Did The Mess Occur?
Human Nature and Immediate Gratification
Think of love– Perfection– Fireworks– Promise of Eternal Bliss– Reality Dawns (Usually)
Prior Panaceas Prior Panaceas The Evolution of CBC The Evolution of CBC
Community Punishments1700’s Quakers, Penitentiaries1870’s Indeterminate Sentence1800’s-1900 Therapeutic Prison1960’s-1970’s Flourishing CBC1980’s-Present Get Tough On Crime1980’s-1990’s Punish and Control
A Better IdeaA Better Idea
Reasoned ApproachConsensus BuildingRealize TX Is Not A Euphemism For
LeniencyRealize Control, Properly Done, Will Not
Corrupt Reform
Corrections SpendingCorrections SpendingPrison and Jail Spending
– Two Cents of Every State and Local Dollar
Probation and Parole- Two Tenths of One Cent
¾ of Correctional Clients Are In Local Communities
They Receive 1/10 Of Corrections Budgets
Problem, Reality, ResultsProblem, Reality, Results
Problem: President’s Crime Commission
Reality: Average national caseload 150:1
Supervision FailuresSupervision Failures
Offenders who fail under community supervision are the fastest growing component of prison populations.
This costs you $$$$$$$$$$.
Cost ComparisonsCost Comparisons
Effective TX Programs– $12,000 to $14,000 per year
Prison– $18,000 to $25,000 per year
Probation– About $1,400 per year
Expanded Prison PolicyExpanded Prison Policy
Politicians Cite Public Opinion As The Reason For Supporting Expanded Prison/Incarceration Policies.
Fundamental Tenet of Democratic Society– Government and its institutions should reflect
the will of the people.
Problem: What Punishes?Problem: What Punishes?
Problem: What Punishes?– Is requiring a runner to run 5 miles
punishment?– Is requiring a lazy person to stay home
punishment?
Reality: The opinion of the person punished is crucial in determining punishment.
Intermediate Sanctions Intermediate Sanctions As PunishmentAs Punishment
Many offenders consider Intermediate Sanctions more punishing than prison.
Balance, Level and Intensity of IS can be dreaded.– One 10 page research paper per semester– Per week– Per Day
Building ConsensusBuilding Consensus
Common Sense (and Knowledge)
Target Offender Groups That Make Sense– Those that commit the most crime– Those that pose the least physical threat
Consensus (cont’d)Consensus (cont’d)
Answer: Minor Drug Offenders
-Greatest number of offenders
-Drugs generally contribute to crime
-TX reduces crime
Results of P&P Cases in TXResults of P&P Cases in TX
Higher success rates and Lower crime rates
Each day of TX pays for itself that day– Crime costs and Health Care costs
Problems to AddressProblems to Address
How to Control Crime
Crime Prevention
De-escalating Criminal Careers
A Bottom Line ProblemA Bottom Line Problem
Federal Crime Control Policy– Provides $$$ to states to support fed policies– Political Leadership and Guts Is A Major Issue