Into The Abyss:
A Personal Journey into the World of Street Gangs

by Mike Carlie, Ph.D.        
Copyright © 2002 Michael K. Carlie
Continually updated.

~ Table of Contents ~
Home | Foreword | Preface | Orientation
What I Learned | Conclusions
End Note | Solutions
Resources | Appendix
 Site Map / Contents | New Research
Up-To-Date Gang-Related News


Part 2:
The Goals of Probation and Parole

The goals of probation include:

bulletallowing the offender to remain in the community in order to maintain his or her family contacts and employment while being supervised by a probation officer,

bulletproviding the offender with guidance from the probation officer and access to community-based treatment programs,

bullethelping an offender become a law abiding member of the community,

bulletbeing able to maintain employment and pay restitution to the victims of their crime (if so ordered by the court),

bulletprotecting the interests and safety of the public by providing supervision and treatment to those who do not need to be isolated from the community, and

bulletoffering these services at a cost considerably lower than incarceration.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, as of August 11, 1999, "The fee to cover the average cost of incarceration for Federal inmates is $21,926." (U.S. Bureau of Prisons, 1999)  For fiscal year 1999-2000, the fee in Florida was $18,272 (Florida Department of Corrections) and, in 2000, the fee was $25,607 for the state of California. (California Department of Corrections)  Fees include the cost to feed, clothe, house, educate, and provide other services (i.e., medical, religious, psychological, recreational) for an inmate for one year in addition to expenses incurred for maintaining the prison facility and its personnel. 

In comparison, the Florida Department of Corrections reported an annual cost of only $1,149.05 per probationer or parolee for services provided during the period of 1998-1999. (Florida Department of Corrections)  In California, for the year 2000, that figure was $2,636. (California Department of Corrections)   The cost of probation and parole are much less than the cost of incarceration, and there are some convicted persons who are better served - as is the public - when placed on probation or parole.

The goals of parole include:

bulletserving as a reward for inmates who exhibit good behavior while in prison;

bulletcontributing to a less violent environment within the walls of the prison by providing an incentive to behave well, thus making it safer for inmates, visitors, staff, and administrators;

bulletproviding parolees with supervision in the community and access to community-based treatment programs while serving out the remainder of their prison sentence;

bullethelping an offender become a law abiding member of the community;

bulletprotecting the interests and safety of the public by incarcerating the offender and then providing community-based treatment to those who no longer need to be isolated from the community; and

bulletproviding correctional services at a cost less than the cost of incarceration.

There are other benefits which may be attributed to the use of probation or parole, but the ones listed above serve our purposes here. 

A lesser penalty for violating conditions of probation and parole may involve an increase in the level of supervision under which the probationer or parolee must live. That's our next topic.

Next

© 2002 Michael K. Carlie
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the author and copyright holder - Michael K. Carlie.