Unit Eight SeminarUnit Eight Seminar

Corrections Corrections Chapter Twelve ReadingChapter Twelve Reading

Probation is granted every day in Probation is granted every day in U.S. courts. It is considered a U.S. courts. It is considered a "front end sentence," where "front end sentence," where instead of incarceration the instead of incarceration the convicted offender is given an convicted offender is given an opportunity to voluntarily opportunity to voluntarily participate in a court supervised participate in a court supervised sentence. sentence.

An individual granted probation is An individual granted probation is often convicted of nonviolent often convicted of nonviolent property crimes. Other property crimes. Other considerations for probation are past considerations for probation are past criminal history, obligations to criminal history, obligations to support a family, the ability to work support a family, the ability to work and be self-sufficient, and the and be self-sufficient, and the willingness to abide by the rules of willingness to abide by the rules of the court. (Main Points-Unit 8)the court. (Main Points-Unit 8)

Depending on where you live (like Depending on where you live (like where I’m at in the Chicago/Cook where I’m at in the Chicago/Cook County Court System) there are County Court System) there are times when convicted offenders times when convicted offenders receive probation based on receive probation based on overcrowding issues.overcrowding issues.

Cook County is one of the largest Cook County is one of the largest counties in the U.S. with over 100 counties in the U.S. with over 100 municipalities. Other counties municipalities. Other counties are more conservative in their are more conservative in their sentencing guidelines.sentencing guidelines.

Offenders have received Offenders have received supervision, drug school and supervision, drug school and probation as a sentence. probation as a sentence.

Should offenders receive Should offenders receive probation for any felony offense? probation for any felony offense?

Please give me the ideas behind Please give me the ideas behind presentence investigation.presentence investigation.

Presentence investigations are Presentence investigations are conducted by probation officers conducted by probation officers prior to the court handing down a prior to the court handing down a sentence and include a thorough sentence and include a thorough background investigation of the background investigation of the individual under consideration. individual under consideration.

The background investigation The background investigation includes an assessment of the includes an assessment of the individual’s mental health, individual’s mental health, employment history, drug and employment history, drug and alcohol use, past criminal history, alcohol use, past criminal history, and his or her participation in and his or her participation in prior probation sentences. (Main prior probation sentences. (Main Ideas-Unit 8)Ideas-Unit 8)

Should courts use Home Should courts use Home Confinement more?Confinement more?

Please define and give me Please define and give me information regarding restorative information regarding restorative justice……..justice……..

Here are the high points Here are the high points regarding restorative justice. This regarding restorative justice. This will be multiple posts…………….will be multiple posts…………….

Crime is injury. Crime hurts Crime is injury. Crime hurts individual victims, communities, individual victims, communities, and juvenile offenders and and juvenile offenders and creates an obligation to make creates an obligation to make things right.things right.

All parties should be a part of the All parties should be a part of the response to the crime, including response to the crime, including the victim if he or she wishes, the the victim if he or she wishes, the community, and the juvenile community, and the juvenile offender. The victim’s perspective offender. The victim’s perspective is central to deciding how to is central to deciding how to repair the harm caused by the repair the harm caused by the crime.crime.

The community is responsible for The community is responsible for the well-being of all its members, the well-being of all its members, including both victim and including both victim and offender. All human beings have offender. All human beings have dignity and worth and all are dignity and worth and all are given equal protection and due given equal protection and due process.process.

Restoration -- repairing the harm Restoration -- repairing the harm and rebuilding relationships in the and rebuilding relationships in the community -- is the primary goal community -- is the primary goal of restorative justice.of restorative justice.

Results are measured by how Results are measured by how much repair was done rather than much repair was done rather than by how much punishment was by how much punishment was inflicted. Crime control cannot be inflicted. Crime control cannot be achieved without active achieved without active involvement of the community.involvement of the community.

It is basically attempting to make It is basically attempting to make the victim whole again.the victim whole again.

Let’s talk about residential Let’s talk about residential community corrections (RCC).community corrections (RCC).

Please tell me what this term Please tell me what this term refers to…….refers to…….

Residential Community Residential Community Corrections (RCC) is defined as "a Corrections (RCC) is defined as "a freestanding non-secure building freestanding non-secure building that is not part of a prison or jail that is not part of a prison or jail and houses pretrial and and houses pretrial and adjudicated adults.adjudicated adults.

The residents regularly depart to The residents regularly depart to work, to attend school, and/or work, to attend school, and/or participate in treatment activities participate in treatment activities and programs." and programs."

Does it make you uncomfortable Does it make you uncomfortable to think that a RCC could open in to think that a RCC could open in your own neighborhood?your own neighborhood?

Typically, they are non-violent Typically, they are non-violent offenders.offenders.

Parole pertains to the status of a Parole pertains to the status of a convicted offender who has been convicted offender who has been released from prison by a paroling released from prison by a paroling authority before the expiration of authority before the expiration of his or her sentence, is placed his or her sentence, is placed under the supervision of a parole under the supervision of a parole agency, and is required to agency, and is required to observe the conditions of parole.observe the conditions of parole.

Should offenders serve out their Should offenders serve out their full term and Parole be full term and Parole be eliminated?eliminated?

What are some of the advantages What are some of the advantages of Probation?of Probation?

Lower cost, Increased Lower cost, Increased employment, Restitution, employment, Restitution, Community support, Reduced risk Community support, Reduced risk of criminal socialization, of criminal socialization, Increased use of community Increased use of community services and Increased services and Increased opportunity for rehabilitation.opportunity for rehabilitation.

What are some of the What are some of the disadvantages of Probation?disadvantages of Probation?

Relative lack of punishment, Relative lack of punishment, Increased risk to the community Increased risk to the community and Increased social costs. and Increased social costs.

Do the advantages outweigh the Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?disadvantages?

Is the probation system outdated Is the probation system outdated and too soft?and too soft?

How is probation/parole How is probation/parole changing? What does the future changing? What does the future hold for them?hold for them?

Creating new kinds of reentry Creating new kinds of reentry systems. Under this model, systems. Under this model, sentencing judges oversee an sentencing judges oversee an offender's sentence from the time offender's sentence from the time of conviction and imprisonment of conviction and imprisonment through the release into the through the release into the community under supervision.community under supervision.

Thanks for your time tonight. Thanks for your time tonight.

That is all I for you.That is all I for you.

Questions, Comments, Questions, Comments, Concerns???Concerns???

Class Dismissed.Class Dismissed.