Prisoner Reentry

History

Prior to the late 1970s, prisoner reentry was bound to the discretionary powers of the parole board. Ideally, the parole board was comprised of experts in the field of criminality and criminal behavior who routinely evaluated prisoners for release. A parole board considered various levels of community attachment, such as a stable family life, whether or not the offender had secured a place of employment and a place of residence, and behavioral changes indicative of rehabilitation for release. The goal of corrections at this time was to return the offender to the community as a law-abiding, constructive citizen.

In the late 1970s, both liberals and conservatives grew uncomfortable with the unchecked discretionary power of parole boards. Many states instituted stricter sentencing guidelines and invoked determinate sentencing practices in an attempt to reduce the amount of discretion available to parole boards. The rehabilitative ideology was virtually abandoned by policymakers in the 1970s. It was replaced with an emphasis on deterrence and incapacitation that continues today. Parole boards either have been abolished (15 states) or have experienced severe reductions in discretion (21 states). For instance, in 1990, 39% of inmates were released by parole board action, and 29% of inmates were released on mandatory release. By 1998, these figures had reversed, with 26% of prisoners released by parole board action and 40% by mandatory release. Also, the average time served in prison has increased from 22 months in 1990 to 27 months in 1998.

Though the use and discretion of parole boards has waned, the use of parole officers continues. Approximately 80% of released inmates will be assigned a parole officer. In 1970, parole officers averaged 45 parolees on their caseloads, whereas today the typical parole officer is responsible for approximately 70 parolees. The increase in case-load has changed the duties of the parole officer. Parole officers no longer serve as aids to successful community reintegration of parolees. Instead, they more often perform surveillance duties (such as ensuring that parolees undergo drug testing, avoid contact with known criminal associates, and maintain employment). Parole officers remand a high proportion of parolees back to prison. Between 30% and 40% of all new prison admissions are parole violators, of which nearly 20% are readmitted for technical violations.

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