Probation vs Parole
Probation and parole are one of the key methods of punishment applied to offenders in the United States. Probation, as well as parole allow a person to mend, and not to commit crimes in the future. The main objective of this paper is to examine the similarities and differences between probation and parole, as well as determine their effectiveness.
The work of the probation and parole officers with convicted criminals can be attributed to the common characteristics of these two types of sentence (Roberts, 2016). In both cases, offenders are stay under constant supervision. Probation and parole allow avoid prison or jail, and provide an offender with a chance to rehabilitation and continuation of a more or less normal life (Roberts, 2016). However, only less dangerous and violent criminals, as well as those, who have committed a crime for the first time, have an ability to be under probation or parole (Roberts, 2016). Particularly dangerous criminals, murderers, rapists, and those, who are a threat to national security, are obliged to serve their sentence in prison.
In addition to the common characteristics, there are differences between probation and parole. In case of parole, the offender has been sent to prison previously, but was released to be able to live in a normal society under the supervision of an officer (James, 2015). In case of probation, the offender avoids prison and even trial (James, 2015). This means that such criminals have an ability to continue living in a society, but they are onliged to participate in rehabilitation programs, carry out any required work, as well as pass the drug tests (James, 2015). If the one, who is on probation, violates the rules, refuses to comply with them, or commits a crime, he/she could be sent to prison. Under the parole conditions, offender, who was released from prison earlier, may be obliged to stay under supervision at home territory (James, 2015). In case of disobedience to the parole conditions, the offender could also be sent to prison, as well as under probation rules.
Thus, both the probation and parole are effective methods to fight against criminal actions, since they still have a preventive effect. However, probation is more effective, as it does not burden criminals with trial, and has no psychological pressure on them. The advantage of the probation is that the end of supervision does not entail the crisis of the release, because all the vitally important circumstances of the offender do not undergo through drastic changes. However, there is no condemnation, whether probation, imprisonment, or parole that can guarantee that the offender will not start to commit crimes again.
References
James, N. (2015). Offender reentry: Correctional statistics, reintegration into the community, and recidivism. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved from https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34287.pdf
Roberts, M. (2016). How parole and probation officers are different. The Balance. Retrieved from …
