Intermediate sanctions were popularly supported back in the 1990s as the answer to America's serious prison overcrowding problem. Students will discuss the changes made to the prison system since the 1990s as well as learn about restitution, fines, community service and forfeiture. Students will also examine the probation system. Does it work? Are former inmates under enough supervision once they leave the "Big House?" What can parole and correctional officers do in order to ensure criminals will not return to prison? We will also learn about substance abuse treatment programs, day reporting, residential and institutional sanctions as well as halfway homes and even boot camps that correctional professionals are implementing into the prison system with the hopes of bringing about change.
Parole, Surveillance, and Reentry Programs
We will trace the evolution of parole throughout history and compare it to modern practices. We will also examine how a parole board functions and what they look for in an inmate who is up for release. What is the role of a parole officer? Students will also go over the various types of reentry programs including pre-release instruction, work-release programs, study-release programs, home-furlough programs, halfway houses and community-based assistance programs. Depending on the length of time spent behind bars, a prisoner's final release from prison can be more of a traumatic experience than one for celebration. Many prisoners forget how to function in the real world. By implementing these programs, officials hope to make an inmate's transition from prison back into the real world as smooth as possible.
Students will explore and evaluate the continuum of correctional sanctions. Parole, surveillance and reentry programs will be reviewed.
This course focuses on the many types of intermediate sanctions: intensive supervision of individuals on probation, community service orders, restitution by the offender, fines paid by the offender, day reporting facilities, house arrest and/or electronic monitoring, boot camps, community halfway houses and informal drug courts. Students will also learn about parole and how it is one way for prisoners to be released from prison before serving their full term. Students will also discuss the importance of having reentry programs in place within the community to make success more likely for the recently released inmate.