Reference no: EM133460257

Most prison inmates return to society with few job skills and opportunities. The rise in incarceration rates has also led to an increase in the number of parolees returning to the community. Imagine that you have just been released from prison after serving a five-year term. What are some of the issues you are likely to encounter, and how would you deal with them?

Consider the first three steps of the Criminal Justice Decision Making Model:

Step One: Define the problem (and the questions that need to be answered): Read the sections titled "The Release From One Part of the System to Another," "The Decision to Release," "Release to the Community," "Agents of Community Supervision," "The Offender's Experience of Post-release Life," and "The Elements of Successful Reentry." Should inmates always serve their entire prison sentence, or should they be subject to parole? Discuss the difference between mandatory and discretionary release. What are some of the typical issues facing parolees and parole officers, and what are the best techniques for dealing with these issues? Read "Five Dilemmas Facing Corrections" and "Four Trends in the Corrections System," and discuss these phenomena' impact on parole.

Gather evidence (laws, policies, procedures, data) and evaluate for relevancy: Research the decision to release and the number of parolees in the system for your state. What are some of the common conditions under which parole is granted? What are the recidivism rates for parolees?

Weigh moral considerations and direct and indirect consequences: Given the current public attitudes toward offenders, what do you see as the future for parole? Will this benefit or hinder correctional efforts and the criminal justice system as a whole, and why do you feel that way?

Following Steps 4 and 5 of the Criminal Justice Decision-Making Model, write a three-page essay in which you discuss when parole should be allowed, the issues facing parolees when they reenter the community, and how the future of corrections will specifically affect the area of parole. Focus on having a solid introduction and conclusion to your essay. Your introduction should tell the readers the topic and contain a thesis statement. Your conclusion should clarify the points made within the essay.

Write your position paper, argument, or proposal using the material above.

Balance your position by addressing alternatives and potential pitfalls.