Criminal Justice

Discuss the three goals of the criminal justice system and reasons that these goals might not be achieved (incapacitation, retribution, rehabilitation).
Discus probation and parole.
Discuss factors that authorities consider when considering parole of an inmate.
What obstacles do inmates typically face when they attempt to re-enter society?
What are intermediate sanctions?

ANSWER

The Three Goals of the Criminal Justice System and Reasons That These Goals Might Not Be Achieved

The goals of criminal justice are linked to the sentencing process. Incapacitation brings the idea that if criminals are locked up in an environment that is secure they are deprived of the capacity to commit crimes (Spohn, 3). Retribution entails giving the offenders the deserved punishment where the punishment adheres to the offense. On the other hand, rehabilitation is a form of punishment aimed to help the offender to be productive and a non-criminal member of society. Racial discrimination has influenced the criminal justice system. For instance, the sentencing laws and punishments were discriminatory, with the harshest sanctions been given to the blacks that have victimized the whites.

Probation and Parole

Considerably, parole and probation are both options to incarceration. However, probation occurs before the prison or jail time while parole entails an early release from prison (Schaefer, 252). During probation, the defendants are given a warning rather than a pronounced sentence that would send them directly to jail or prison. This allows them to change or rehabilitate. Probation will require the defendant to continue paying fines and face the same controls as probation. In both parole and probation, the victim is expected to follow certain guidelines and rules. These conditions are termed as probation conditions or conditions of parole.

Factors That Authorities Consider When Considering Parole of an Inmate.

The parole board is an administrative body that is given the mandate to decide whether the inmates will be conditionally released before completing their sentence. Some of the factors that authorities considered for the suitability of parole include age, behavior and traits, incarceration length, conduct during incarceration, crime severity and motivation, remorse for the offense, mental stability, and criminal history. For instance, the probation officers carry out an investigative process that is used to examine the offender’s history, behavior, as well crime severity which enables them to evaluate whether the defendant can safely be released on their bail. Considerably, the report from these different factors is the primary source of information that the court relies upon in making its decision. Additionally, the information gathered is used to classify the offender and consider whether they have accomplished the terms of their release.

Obstacles Inmates Typically Face When They Attempt to Re-Enter Society

Inmates tend to face several obstacles after leaving prison. Re-entering society after leaving prison does not guarantee that they will succeed in life. This is because they face challenges linked to anti-social relationships, unemployment, and low social support which translates to low self-esteem (Lee, 212). These are some of the obstacles that result from barriers that they face after returning to society. For instance, once released, inmates face myriads of barriers since they are not allowed to vote, fewer job opportunities, and ineligible for public housing and public benefits. The high instability risk can lead to some of the ex-prisoners experiencing homelessness after release due to limited finances.

Intermediate Sanctions

Intermediate sanctions are considered as correction alternatives that are less restrictive than normal prison or jail sentences but are more restrictive compared to the standard parole or probation. Intermediate sanctions include electronic monitoring, intensive supervision, and boot camp. Intermediate sanctions have been effective in offering a broader range of sentencing options that are cost-saving and upheld deterrence. Intermediate sanctions have prevented prison overcrowding by enabling offenders to take part in programs aimed at reforming the offender as they live as part of the community.

Works Cited

Lee, Keunbok, David J. Harding, and Jeffrey D. Morenoff. “Trajectories of neighborhood attainment after prison.” Social Science Research 66 (2017): 211-233.

Schaefer, Lacey, and Harley Williamson. “Probation and parole case management as opportunity-reduction supervision.” Journal of Offender Rehabilitation 56.7 (2017): 452-472.

Spohn, Cassia, and Pauline K. Brennan. “Sentencing Policies and Practices in the 21st Century: An Introduction.” Handbook on Sentencing Policies and Practices in the 21st Century. Routledge, 2019. 1-16.