Course: Introduction
Community corrections is the supervision of criminal offenders in the resident population, as opposed to confining offenders in secure correctional facilities.
The two main types of community corrections supervision are probation and parole.
Community corrections is also referred to as community supervision.
Community corrections is an essential aspect of the criminal justice system that involves the supervision of criminal offenders in the resident population instead of confining them in secure correctional facilities. This approach has gained popularity in recent years as it offers a more cost-effective and humane alternative to traditional incarceration while still providing public safety.
The primary objective of community corrections is to ensure that offenders remain accountable and compliant with the terms of their sentence while also facilitating their reintegration into society. Through community corrections, offenders are provided with an opportunity to serve their sentence while still maintaining family and employment ties. This can significantly reduce recidivism rates, enhance community safety, and save taxpayers money that would have been used to house offenders in expensive correctional facilities.
The two main types of community corrections supervision are probation and parole. Probation is a type of community supervision that is granted to offenders as an alternative to incarceration. Probation can be granted at the time of sentencing or after a portion of a prison sentence has been served. Offenders placed on probation are typically required to follow certain terms and conditions, such as regularly reporting to a probation officer, attending drug or alcohol treatment programs, and performing community service. Probation terms may vary depending on the offense and the individual’s circumstances.
Parole, on the other hand, is a type of community supervision that is granted to offenders after they have served a portion of their sentence in a correctional facility. Parole is typically granted to offenders who have demonstrated good behavior while incarcerated and have completed a specific portion of their sentence. Parolees are required to follow certain terms and conditions, such as attending drug or alcohol treatment programs, regularly reporting to a parole officer, and complying with specific curfews.
Both probation and parole offer offenders a second chance to reintegrate into society and live productive, law-abiding lives. Probation and parole officers play a vital role in the community corrections process, providing guidance and support to offenders while also ensuring that they remain accountable for their actions. They conduct regular meetings with the offenders, assess their progress, and determine whether they are complying with the terms of their sentence.
Learn More
On This Site
[ Glossary ]
Last Modified: 04/25/2023