Parole and Truth in Sentencing Paper

Parole and Truth-in-Sentencing Paper xxxxx xxxxxxx CJS/200 November 19, 2011 xxxxxx Parole and Truth-in-Sentencing Paper Before parole becomes an option to an offender or an offender remains on parole, there are conditions and concepts and goals that must be practiced or met. Typical conditions influence parole as the inmate is released from prison. Truth-in-sentencing laws have goals in relations to parole. To understand the concepts on which parole is based, one must know and understand the definition of parole. Parole, the early release of an inmate from correctional confinement under supervision, is a sentencing strategy that returns offenders progressively to productive lives (Schmalleger, 2011). According to Schmalleger (2011), â€Å"By making early release possible, parole can also act as a stimulus for positive behavioral change. † Parole is based off and supports the concept of imprecise sentencing, which held that an inmate can gain early discharge through good conduct and self-improvement (Schmalleger, 2011). The conditions of parole place general and special limitations on offenders who have been released from prison early (Schmalleger, 2011). The offender’s criminal background as well as the circumstances of the offense is taken into consideration when referring to special conditions, while general conditions are fixed by state statutes (Schmalleger, 2011). Under the conditions of parole, a parolee must periodically check in, or report, to parole officers, and parole officers may visit the parolees home or place of employment unannounced (Schmalleger, 2011). While an offender is on parole, he or she must obtain employment within 30 days and continue work as it has shown to reduce the probability of repeated offenses (Schmalleger, 2011). In accordance to Schmalleger (2011), â€Å"General conditions of parole usually include agreement not to leave the state as well to obey extradition requests from other jurisdiction. † Truth in sentencing, a close connection linking the sentence imposed on an offender, and the amount of time served in prison, benefited offenders while infuriated victims (Schmalleger, 2011). What you get is what you serve† became the emphasis on truth in sentencing and has become an important policy focus of many state legislatures and the United States Congress (Schmalleger, 2011). The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement set aside funds that adopt the truth-in-sentencing laws assure that certain violent offenders will serve at least 85 percent of their prison sentence (Schmalleger, 2011). The concept of parole allows an offender to be released from confinement before the end of their sentence under certain circumstances. Conditions must be followed and maintained to ensure the offender stays on parole. The goals of truth in sentencing are based on violent criminals completing 85 percent of their time to honor the victim. References Schmalleger, F. (2011). Criminal justice today: An introductory text for the twenty-first century (11th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Prentice Hall.