Community supervision also referred to as community corrections, is defined is a category of programs which enable offenders who have been convicted to be supervised within their community as opposed to being placed in correctional facilities. The forms of community supervision that are highly common include probation and parole. These forms of supervision may be completed in combination with other resources (Schwartz, 2016). As community supervision is provided in all jurisdictions, an assessment of the impact that these set of programs may have is essential.
There are several positive impacts on community supervision. One impact is that community supervision acts as an alternative to being incarcerated for a majority of low-risk offenders. This alternative enables individuals to stay within their societies and being engaged in work while also being rehabilitated for the crimes they are convicted of. Community supervision entities, such as probation departments, can take part in the rehabilitation of offenders through several socials services such as alcohol treatment or life skill classes (Schwartz, 2016). This can significantly decrease the likelihood of offenders engaging in future crimes, which may minimize the existence of career criminals.
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Community supervision also considerably decreases the costs associated with the rehabilitation of offenders by decreasing the number of individuals in incarceration facilities. When offenders have the ability to stay within their communities, as opposed to being incarcerated, this benefits not only the offenders and various families but also the entire society. Therefore, through community supervision, individuals are able to contribute to the general economy as opposed to becoming a drain on it (Drake, 2018). Transitions to life following periods of incarceration is challenging for most individuals and typically results in these individuals being incarcerated after some time. With probation, there is no transition back to daily life which decreases the likelihood of the individual engaging in further crime.
Community supervision has a significant positive impact on the victims of the crime committed. Victims are the individuals that are most significantly harmed by the crime committed by offenders. With community supervision, victims may be integrated across conviction activities such as attending proceedings and providing information at the time the offender is sentenced. Community supervision ensures the accountability of offenders for their behaviour by making them responsible for compensation as an aspect of the process of rehabilitation. In several situations, all the funds that the offender presents are directed to victims before they are used for other fees (Drake, 2018). In other cases, victims are able to engage in confrontation with the convicted individuals and have a discussion on the effect that the crime has had on their lives. An example of this is the existence of Victim Impact Panels which facilitate this form of confrontation.
One of the primary adverse effects of community supervision is that some individuals do not respond to community supervision activities, and make the decision to take advantage of their freedom by further engaging in crime. Hence, community supervision can expose members of society to a higher rate of criminal behaviour. Those involved in community supervision may become repeat offenders (Schwartz, 2016). Secondly, while community supervision is still considered as a better alternative to jail, it still represents an advancement of the state into the lives of those involved. A large number of individuals are under community supervision, and this form of control may have adverse effects on the lives of the individuals involved and the society as well. Community supervision frequently includes the continued involvement of the criminal justice system, which may be detrimental for their individual liberty as they have to be monitored for a particular period. Lastly, there is also a risk that the offenders being supervised faced significant challenges when they are released. They may be faced by severe unemployment, homelessness or substance abuse.
References
Drake, E. K. (2018). The monetary benefits and costs of community supervision. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice , 34 (1), 47-68.
Schwartz, J. (2016). Criminal Justice at the Crossroads: Transforming Crime and Punishment.
