Advantages and Disadvantages of Parole
The history of community corrections shows that many changes have occurred in the criminal justice system regarding punishment of offenders. Shortly after the creation of the penitentiary community, many people came to the view that incarceration was not an appropriate response to address all offenders. As a response to this concern, community corrections such as probation and parole were developed and implemented by the criminal justice system (Travis 1998, p.308). The aim of this paper is to examine the issue of parole, which has been discussed prolong and many controversies related to it have arisen. The essay will explore the advantages and disadvantages of the existence of parole in the criminal justice system. Firstly, various community measures addressing offenders will be explored. Next, a definition of the concept of parole will be provided, followed by a discussion of its ' aims and objectives. Next, the advantages and disadvantages of parole will be examined. Finally, the paper will address the issue whether parole is under or over utilised in Australia.
The Queensland criminal justice system takes a utilitarian approach to crime, providing inmates with programs designed to help rehabilitate offenders for the long-term benefit of society. Queensland Correctional Services provides offenders with options that are aiming at their rehabilitation and successful reintegration back into society (Qld Department of Corrective Services 2004). These options seek to provide prisoners with the opportunity to participate in community work programs, release to work programs, home detention and conditional parole. However, these programs are only available to low risk prisoners who have committed non-violent offences and are not considered a threat to society (Qld Department of Corrective Services 2004).
Community work programs provide prisoners with meaningful work and assist offenders in developing skills that can improve their possibilities to be employed upon
The Queensland criminal justice system takes a utilitarian approach to crime, providing inmates with programs designed to help rehabilitate offenders for the long-term benefit of society. Queensland Correctional Services provides offenders with options that are aiming at their rehabilitation and successful reintegration back into society (Qld Department of Corrective Services 2004). These options seek to provide prisoners with the opportunity to participate in community work programs, release to work programs, home detention and conditional parole. However, these programs are only available to low risk prisoners who have committed non-violent offences and are not considered a threat to society (Qld Department of Corrective Services 2004).
Community work programs provide prisoners with meaningful work and assist offenders in developing skills that can improve their possibilities to be employed upon
Bibliography: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2000) Probation and Parole Statistics, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pandp.htm, April 19 Gottfredson, M.R. (1988) Decision Making in Criminal Justice: Toward the Rational Exercise of Discretion, New York: Plenum Press Jacobson, M. (2005) Downsizing Prisons: How to reduce Crime and end incarceration, New York: New York University Press Petersilia, J. (1998) Community Corrections: Probation, Parole, and Intermediate Sanctions, New York: Oxford University Press Queensland Government: Department of Corrective Services (2004) Release to Work http://www.correctiveservices.qld.gov.au/thedept/comcordir/communitycorrections/Community%20Custody/rtw.shtml, April 17 Stevens, D.J. (2006) Community Corrections: An applied Approach, Boston: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Travis, L.F. (1998) Introduction to Criminal Justice, Cincinatti OH: Anderson, pp.307-329 United States Parole Commission website (2004) What is Parole? http://www.usdoj.gov/uspc//questions.htm, April 19 US Department of Justice (1998) Rethinking Probation: Community Supervision, Community Safety, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/probation/rethink.pdf, April 20