Texas Usa 2011 Case Study

The IDOC Parole Program addresses public safety and enhances parole supervision on the streets through increased monitoring and provides assists to services, which reduce recidivism. All parolees receive direct supervision in the community. The Parole Division has increased its parole agent numbers and contact with parolees as they return to the community, as well as has case management programs and specialized parole surveillance units (Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) Website). Yet, this more like policing and not services-oriented.

After reading the Glaze and Parks (2012) and Maruschak & Parks (2012) reports there was a lot of useful information regarding correctional population and probation and parole. One important conclusion that can be drawn from these reports are:

The state bureaucracy administers/implements the laws of Texas. It is run by executives whose job is to see that the laws of the state are implemented according to the will and intent of the Legislature. Ideally, these executive branch officials or bureaucrats are to administer their duties and implement the laws in a neutral manner, uninfluenced by politics. In reality, state bureaucrats are important players in not just implementation, but also policy making. In Texas, there is no overall central governing or controlling authority. Government authority in Texas is very decentralized, and rests within many independent state agencies.

Mandira Pandey Professor Sherifian GOVT 2306-73004 1 May 2017 Local control in Texas The government of Texas is composed of entire democratic state government which uses municipal levels and dillion rule. It works beneath the constitution of Texas. The government of Texas is divided into three branches i.e. 1 executive legislative and judiciary. Executive for carrying out laws. Whereas, legislative for making laws. Likewise, judiciary branch aims for interpreting laws.

In many cases upon nearing completion of the program, offenders are able to maintain their own residence, but are required to return to the facility as scheduled to be assessed on their progress. (Alarid and Del Carmen 183-184)

The most common Governmental figure in Texas is the Governor. This power is nothing more than that of a celebrity status. Although the Governor has the power to appoint independent boards and commissions, the senate has to confirm these appointments. This is called senatorial courtesy What is meant when this job is more like a celebrity is because of the Governor‘s ceremonial roles as acting as Chief of State. This increases the Governor‘s popularity and prestige, and broadens the image of the office. One important power or role that the Governor is responsible for is coordinating relations between Texas and other states. This can definitely be an important factor. For example, the need of federal aid during the time of an emergency can require the help of other states. The Governor also acts as the Chief Budget officer of the state. Even though the presiding officer presides over this office, the Governor does have some control. This is a very effective example of a good trustworthy system.

[When an offenders case comes to a close there can be several reasons. In some cases the offender has completed there term of supervision, others violate their terms of probation and are incarcerated as a result, and still others leave supervision on their own without completing their probation. When an offender terminates supervision in good standing there are protocols which should be followed in order to end supervision successfully with the best possibility for continued growth of the offender. A case manager at a Massachusetts facility was asked “what is the goal of the program?” the staff 's responses transcended duties and roles as represented by this quote: “... to reintegrate criminal female offenders back into society, first and foremost to protect the public" (Mastrorilli, 2014).

Probation and Parole is apart of community policing that deals with ethics, integrity, values. This promotes and supports organization strategies to address the cause and reduce the fear of crime and social disorders through problem solving approaches and community partnership. Ethics is used when addressing moral conduct. Integrity is used when one if true to themselves and would not do anything dishonorable. Values are social principles that are being upheld.The main roles of an officer in the criminal justice field is to maintain order, crime prevention, public education, delivery of service and enforcement of laws. The officers work hand in hand with community groups and social service agencies to provide offenders and victims with the support and services they need. Probation Officers maintain partnerships with law enforcement and other justice agencies so the agencies can benefit from the expertise of each other and share information on criminal activity.

The most common Governmental figure in Texas is the Governor. This power is nothing more than that of a celebrity status. Although the Governor has the power to appoint independent boards and commissions, the senate has to confirm these appointments. This is called senatorial courtesy What is meant when this job is more like a celebrity is because of the Governor‘s ceremonial roles as acting as Chief of State. This increases the Governor‘s popularity and prestige, and broadens the image of the office. One important power or role that the Governor is responsible for is coordinating relations between Texas and other states. This can definitely be an important factor. For example, the need of federal aid during the time of an emergency can require the help of other states. The Governor also acts as the Chief Budget officer of the state. Even though the presiding officer presides over this office, the Governor does have some control.

Parole is the release of a prisoner by the decision of a paroling authority (Mackenzie, 2002). The offender is then required to remain under the observation of a parole officer who monitors the offender 's obedience with rules of conduct that are imposed by the parole board (Mackenzie, 2002). Parole is actually regarded as a back-end program that works in conjunction with the community (Mackenzie, 2002). Parole is actually similar to probation in that it follows a term of incarceration (Mackenzie, 2002). There are specific conditions which parole can be applied. Violations of these rules may result in re-imprisonment forced to return to prison to serve out the length of their original sentence from the date of release (Mackenzie, 2002). There are currently over five million people who are being supervised by the criminal justice system in the United States (Bureau of

The Michigan correctional system is also experiencing over population in there prisons. The Michigan correctional system institutional overcrowding has lent necessity to the department's large construction program and increasing community treatment programs. State probation and parole supervision centers around a contract service program for parolees and two experimental probation programs. The Mutual Objectives Program provides for contract probation and the Probation Incentive Program supports a probation allowance

1. IPS - The term IPS, also known as intensive probation supervision, is defined by the Criminal Justice Today textbook as "a form of probation supervision involving frequent face-to-face contact between the probationer and the probation officer" (Schmalleger 399). This type of probation has been described as the "strictest form of probation for adults in the United States," and is designed to achieve control in a community setting over offenders who would otherwise go to prison. Some states have extended intensive supervision to paroles, allowing the early release of some who would otherwise serve longer prison terms. The book also mentions that this type of probation can be effective by saying, "a study published in 2000 shows that IPS programs can be effective at reducing recidivism, especially if the programs are well planned and fully implemented" (Schmalleger 400). Essentially, it is known as a unit with the purpose of protecting the community, reducing recidivism, helping rehabilitate, and diverting juvenile and adult probationers from further involvement in crime. These objectives are pursued by closely monitoring probationers and establishing relationships with the families and schools for juveniles involved and other supporting agencies, including, but not limited to, police departments, mental health agencies, social services and community treatment programs. According to the judicial branch of Arizona, Maricopa County website, the Adult Intensive Probation

Texas has also long supported an increase in border security. In 2006, Gov. Rick Perry announced a plan that assigned Department of Public Safety personnel as well as other resources to the border to assist in law enforcement. He also added an additional $3.8 million in grant funding for state criminal justice planning funds to the Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition. (Texas House of Representatives) The state’s legislative policy has been one of strict anti-immigration. In Texas’s 81st Legislative session, the issue of Voter ID arose. The Voter ID bill would require photo identification or two forms of other identification in order to vote. During the 81st session, Democrats filibustered to prevent the issue from being voted upon, it is very likely this is the only reason the bill did not pass and it likely will pass should it reappear in the 82nd session.

The goals of corrections include punishment, rehabilitation and deterrence of crime; supervision of criminals and preparing offenders for re-entry into society. Corrections also aim to prevent recidivism or relapse of criminal behavior as well as reducing delinquency and violence in communities. The first probation officers were expected to provide moral leadership to their probationers, helping them shape positive attitudes, behaviors toward family and religion, how they use their free time, along with gaining employment. There has been enormous change in the philosophy and practice of sentencing and corrections over the last twenty years. The historical changes in sentencing and corrections policies are characterized in four major goals; retribution, rehabilitation, deterrence and incapacitation.

In Missouri, there are publicly two forms of probation, SIS probation and SES probation. SIS (Suspended Imposition of Sentence) probation is where a defendant pleads guilty to or is found guilty of a criminal offense, and then is placed on SIS probation for a fixed period of time. Once the probationer successfully completes the probationary period without further criminal charges and if all of the requisites of probation are completed, an SIS will not result in a conviction “showing” on a criminal record if an Order of Non-Disclosure is obtained which will clear the probationer’s background. Missouri (2013) has a rate about 26% lower than the national average number of probationers per 100,000 people (NIC, 2013). Despite this, Kansas City, according to an October 2014 report by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) showed that a dwindling number of federal probation officers in KC now must supervise a growing population of released offenders who have the most comprehensive criminal histories in the system (Morris, 2014). In a contemporary world, probation officers could be accurately referred to as brokers of service since they are expected to broker community services and monitor their clients ' progress and activities in the community.