Reference no: EM132691417

1. Probation in the United States is administered by more than 2,000 separate agencies on the municipal, county, state, and federal levels in either the judicial or executive branch (Abadinsky, 2015). I believe Probation management on a county level is the best approach. County-level is more hands-on than state level and with the county, you only have to worry about your jurisdiction rather than with the state. Mitchell Silverman goes on to explain in the book how it promotes diversity but also innovative programming can be carried out more easily because it has a shorter line of bureaucratic control than a statewide agency (Abadinsky, 2015). However, if placing probation in the executive branch some advantages are all other human services agencies are in the executive branch, other corrections subsystems are located in the executive branch, and with executive branch placement, program budgeting can be better coordinated and an increased ability to negotiate fully in the resource allocation process becomes possible.

2. There are many different ways to administer probation. Through a county administration, the state will establish rules that guide the county as to acting as their own probation agency. Through a state run agency, one agency will administer a centralized system in order to provide probation services for everyone in the state. I think that the system would run smoother as one state run agency. Although, I think that a county run agency could be more effective at keeping tabs on parolees. I think that a state run agency could be too large to handle each individual perfectly, but overall it would function decently. The issue I find that a county run agency could fall trap to is falling apart all together, resulting in whole counties have disastrous probation programs.

3. Probation in the United States is administered by more than 2,000 separate agencies. I believe probation should be administered on the state level since it will be one agency and consistent throughout the whole state. County level probation results in a great deal of undesirable variance between agencies. Additionally, since each county sets its own budget, probation staff can't be shifted from a low-ratio county to a high-ratio county to equalize the services provided. Probation on the state level allows for coordinated services to be offered to all offenders. Having one agency will allow for the probation system would run smoother, as opposed to multiple agencies for county level probation.

4. Probation in the United States is administered by more than 2,000 separate agencies on the municipal, county, state, and federal levels in either the judicial or executive branch. Probation administered at the state level is usually one agency administers a centralized probation system that provides services throughout the state (Abadinsky,2015). The advantages of having probation administered on a state level rather than a county level are program budgeting can be better coordinated and increased ability to negotiate fully in the resource allocation process becomes possible. Another advantage is there is better coordination of services to offenders and better use of probation personal. 

However, probation administered at the county level does have its benefits as well. Probation administered by the judiciary on a county level promotes diversity(Abadinsky,2015). County agencies are better able to quickly adapt so successful programs are shared and unsuccessful ones are avoided by other counties. That is why I prefer probation being administered at the county level. The county is more familiar with its offenders rather than the state so they are more able to provide them the best probation programs possible. I do understand that probation at the state level does indeed have better coordination of its services but if the local community is responsible for providing these services it gives the people the confidence that they are receiving the best programs for their specific needs.

5. The administration deals with both adult and juvenile offenders - federal, state, local, and county are all significant in terms of probation. The administration of probation starts with plea bargaining. Probation is responsible for the decision process - the investigative work and assisting the court in providing probation instead of a sentence and going to prison. The second responsibility of [probation] agencies is to provide supervision for those offenders who are judged suitable for release to the community (Probation and Parole, 2016, para. 1). Probation gives individuals a second chance, gives the chance to receive rehabilitation treatment, and saves money that could be used for incarceration. Scholars and criminal justice practitioners are in favor of probation being administered on the state level instead of the county level. The advantages of probation being administered on the state level rather than the county level include being responsible for supervising the reintegration of criminals who were tried and convicted in a criminal court, being able to house violent offenders, individuals that committed theft, burglary, and more. Felony offenses can be supervised by state probations whereas county probation focuses on misdemeanor cases and is governed by laws and guidelines by the state which empowers a county to operate within their own agency of probation. I believe that county probation is key because being that it is within the community, reforming and correcting the offenders is its purpose. Correcting their tendencies within the population of the offender can be significant in justifying they will not commit another crime.