Respond with 150 words and 2 references with 1 being the textbook, biblical reference
Cullen, F. T., & Jonson, C. L. (2017). Correctional theory: Context and consequences (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. ISBN: 9781506306520.
*Barry**
The Pros and Cons of a Pure Deterrence Theory
As one reviews the application of a pure deterrence theory in America corrections operations today, the absence of empirical evidence in the development of many such theories remains evident. Based on this authors research and personal observations of local corrections operations in practice, it appears that many pure deterrence programs develop more like a knee jerk response to various challenges within the corrections system. Americas public opinion historical suggests that felonious offenders should be incarcerated through determinate or indeterminate sentencing. The political reaction to public opinion has been to increase incarceration to satisfy safety issues within our communities. Indeed, incarceration does stop that offender from bringing harm to our communities (Cullen, Jonso, & Nagin, 2011). The increased prison populations serve to create overcrowding conditions within prisons, however, which serves to increase violence, more dangers to over-worked corrections personnel, and a resulting increase in parole or felony probation diversion strategies to lessen this burden. One reactive strategy is the use of Intensive Supervision Parole/Probation (ISP) (Hyatt & Barnes, 2017). The question remaining is, how valid is this strategy, and what challenges have arisen within this strategy?
What is Intensive Supervision Parole/Probation ( ISP)?
The theory behind ISP assumes that a specific offender is more prone to recidivism if he or she is awarded the standard probation or parole, which requires minimal reporting such as monthly office visits with the parole/probation officer or even lesser challenging requirements such as phone calls to the officer. ISP, therefore, has arisen as an immediate solution to this challenge. The parolee/probationer is required to submit to more intensive visitation or office visits, drug testing, and other more stringent requirements, which, by design, are perceived to gain more control over the offender, which forces compliance (Hyatt & Barnes, 2017). However, one must ask if this is a pure form of rational emotive behavior therapy, or does it merely delay the inevitable by creating controlled robotic responses? Does history offer examples in intensive parenting controls gone wrong?
Challenges within ISP
The more significant and obvious error within the application of the theory of ISP rests with the increased caseload resulting from the diversion of offenders from incarceration into the parole/probation system. Many states developed parole in absentia program, which is designed to work with offenders with less than a five-year sentence. The offender is released on parole immediately the following sentencing or immediately following transfer of that offender to the state prison. Felony probation serves to release the offender into probationary requirements after sentencing. The immediate challenge of both of these actions, however, is the overburdening of an already challenged parole/probation system. Merely transferring the offenders from the overcrowded prisons to parole or probation officers serves to tempt immediate failure because of the understaffed conditions within those operations. Parole/Probation officers are being forced to accept caseloads exceeding 100 parolees/probationers, which defeats the concept of ISP. Some states have turned to attempting to rely on private security firms to serve as the supervision arm of the ISP programs. Private security firms offer services that are better equipped to provide intensive monitoring of offenders (Hyatt & Barnes, 2017). The question remains, however, does this lessen the caseload for each parole probation officer? Private security firms cannot serve as the enforcement element, only intensive monitoring. The parole/probation officer or law enforcement officers remain the reactive force in dealing with those offenders who violate ISP. As with the troublesome child within many American families, as restrictions tighten, the probability of rebellion seems to increase as well.
Biblical Perspective
Perhaps one of the more meaningful verses relating to intensive supervision may be 15 Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly (Leviticus 19:15, New International Version).
Conclusion
As with many political reactions to perceived public pressure, the response to prison overcrowding challenging an understaffed prison led to ISP, which, in turn, challenges understaffed parole and probation departments. Political ramifications stemming from kneejerk solutions to significant issues seem to permeate the American criminal justice system. Previous presidential administrations served to increase prison populations over the past few decades by decreasing federal funding for our mentally challenged citizenry, which forced the closing of federal, state, and private mental health agencies. This mistake effectively forced our mentally ill on Americas streets to fend for themselves, which led to the increase of mentally ill offenders being sentenced to Americas prisons, prisons that ill-prepared for an increase in prison populations, or providing mental health services. The challenges never seem to cease as corrections operations continue to search for solutions to political ramifications.
References
Cullen, Francis, T., Jonso, Cheryl Lero, and Nagin, Daniel S. (2011). Prisons Do Not
Reduce Recidivism: The High Cost of Ignoring Science. Retrieved November 7, 2019, from http://tpj.sagepub.com.
Hyatt, Jordan M. & Barnes, Geoffrey C. (2017). An Experimental Evaluation of the Impact of Intensive Supervision on the Recidivism of High-Risk Probationers. Retrieved November 7, 2019, from sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.navDOI:10.1177/0011128714555757cad.sagepub.com.
Treatmentadvocacycenter.org. (2016). Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Prevalence in Jails and Prisons: Criminalization. Retrieved November 7, 2019, from https://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/storage/documents/backgrounders/smi-in-jails-and-prisons.pdf.