How Does Probation And Parole Affect The Prison System

If probation and parole were abolished completely, it would affect the prison system population throughout the United States. The prison population increased each year steadily until 2009, with 1,617,478 behind bars. (Latessa & Smith, 2011) Therefore, offenders are put on probation and parole in the United States because it’s an alternative to incarceration for eligible offenders. (Latessa & Smith, 2011) Probation and parole reduce the prison population from overcrowding; however, if probation and parole, if abolished, the criminal justice would not have any resources, taxpayer money will continue to pay taxes for housing prisoners, and contribute to the rehabilitation of offenders. Prisons in America are being sued due to the overcrowding.
(Bohm, R.M., & Haley, K.N., 2012) In the American prison systems, the prisoners outnumber the staff members, which affects the prison system; therefore, administrators in the prisons have taken on the role of working for the incarcerated. Some prisoners have the hardest time adopting inside prison walls. Just think some offenders with a short sentence are imprisoned with inmates that have life sentencing; they go into the prison system with the mindset that I’m going to do my time and be out; however, with the population growth of gang violence inside prisons; prisoners are forced to return to society institutionalize. "Prisoners learn new and better ways to commit crimes while they are locked up with their fellow convicts. They can also make connections and become more deeply involved in the criminal world" (Crime Museum, 2017,
Most prison systems do not have the appropriate medical, and mental health services that are necessary to help rehabilitate prisoners; therefore, probation and parole provide them with the opportunity to receive proper services. Families often forget about loves ones in confinement, which often translates into few visit. The supervision of offenders strategies is aimed at protecting the public as a whole from further victimization. Probation and parole can inform victims of the offender's custody status ensuring that offenders will be held accountable for their actions. Individuals on probation and parolees pay monetary restitution while on probation or parole; therefore the financial payments are beneficial to the states and victims. Also, abolishing probation and parole would reduce any need for the “three strikes” laws. (Meyer & Meyer, 2007) Offenders may also be sent back to prison for a violation of probation and parole; however, the re-entry of offenders back into prison continuously affect the prison system population. (Meyer & Meyer, 2007) Consequently, for every state that has abolished probation and parole, the alternative has resulted in shorter, definite sentences which automatically release offenders at the end of a set sentence, with no review, no ability to extend penalties to reflect the risk of the offender, and no ability to demand that the offenders