Probation and Parole

Probation and Parole Despite the fact that probation and parole are not similar terms of supervision, the media and public have always missed that fact. However, there are several similarities and differences between two terms. As a matter of fact, probation occurs when an offender happen to be released into the community without serving any prison sentence, however, kept under supervision.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Probation and Parole specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, parole refers to when an individual serving a term of incarceration get released into the community, but still remains under supervision. As such, both cases refer to a managed supervision of the victims. In this paper, the author discusses three similarities and three differences between probation and parole. Similarities of Probation and Parole As mentioned earlier, both parole and probation refer to conditions implemented in order to su pervise victims of crime out of prison facilities. Crime victims get free to join the society, where they have to complete their terms under supervision (Figgis, 1998). However, various conditions manage their release, and when the conditions become violated; a term of incarceration may be imposed on the victim. As such, community correction agencies have the duty of ensuring that offenders remain liable to these conditions, as well as, encourage them to change their behavior (Thigpen, Thomas, George, Michael, 2003). Therefore, both parole and probation get implemented to allow for compliance and rehabilitation of offenders. In order to allow offenders to change by themselves, probation and parole should be implemented for victims that do not cause immense insecurity to the public (Thigpen et al., 2003). As such, the implementation of probation and parole allows for the gradual change of offenders. Furthermore, parole and probation became key factors of managing the behavior of off enders within the community setting. Over the decades, especially during the 1980s, crime activities gradually increased. As a result, several victims of crime have constantly been sent to prisons in order to serve their terms away from the society. This ensured that the public remains safe from danger posed by untamed individuals. In the long-run, prison facilities became overcrowded and prison management became impossible to handle. In connection to that, the cost of managing prisons rose towards unacceptable levels in several states.Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Pew Center on the States (2009), parole and probation significantly reduces prison overcrowding, as well as, the associated costs of running the facilities (Figgis, 1998). In 2008, for example, explosive growth in the cost of running prisons became unusually high and strategies to co ntrol the effect had to be implemented. The same year, $5,672 million accounted for prison spending while only $788 million accounted for probation and parole expenditure (Pew Center on the States, 2009). Therefore, it becomes evident that both parole and probation plays a key role in reducing the cost of government spending in correctional facilities as compared to incarceration. As much as supervision of parole and probation matters, there are several similarities that link two processes. In both cases, the offenders have to report to an officer during the whole supervision program. Parolees have to report to parole officers, while individuals on probation reports to probation officers. Relevant sources show that 60 parolees became assigned to one parole officer, while probation officers had more than 100 probation victims to supervise (Pew Center on the States, 2009). Table 1.0 highlights the basic similarities that exist in the conditions governing offenders on parole and probat ion respectively. Probation Parole Offender reports to a probation officer on scheduled basis. There are several guiding and counseling sessions, as well as, anger management lessons. Drug and alcohol treatment makes part of the supervision program. Advices on finding and maintaining employment. Offenders advised to abstain from making crimes (Figgis, 1998). Offender reports to a parole officer on scheduled basis. There are several guiding and counseling sessions, as well as, anger management lessons. Drug and alcohol treatment makes part of the supervision program. Advices on finding and maintaining employment. Offenders advised to abstain from committing any other crimes and keep off other guilty offenders. Figure 1.0: Key similarities between Probation and Parole. Differences between Probation and Parole Besides the fact that probation and parole happen to be implemented by established laws, several variations exist between the practices. In probation, for instanc e, local judges impose probation on offenders that do not pose extremely high dangers to the public (Figgis, 1998). As such, offenders proven guilty by the court happen to be released into the society under specified conditions for some determined length of time. In this scenario, guilty offenders receive an alternative charge of incarceration as long as the offender adheres to the imposed conditions. The offender will remain under supervision, which, mostly continues for the whole probation period after passing of the probation sentence. In that case, the court still assumes several responsibilities such as supervising, changing terms, revoking probation and imposing an incarceration.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Probation and Parole specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In parole, on the other hand, inmates happen to be released into the society after serving part of their terms with an improvement in their behaviors (Bradley, Michael, 2001). In this scenario, the parole board assumes all the responsibilities of controlling the behavior of the parolees. Where a parolee violates the terms and conditions of the parole, the parole may be revoked and another incarceration imposed on the victim (Bradley, Michael, 2001). Hence, probation involves a decision made before the imprisonment of an offender, while parole involves the liberation of inmates from jail in order to serve their remaining part of sentence within the community. In the two scenarios, the decisions reached at depend on the degree of crime committed and behavior of the offender during the initial term respectively. In connection to that, parole can be considered as a privilege for an individual serving a minimum and a maximum term. This can be realized when the convict has already served the minimum term and an improvement in character observed over the period. Hence, the individual qualifies for a chance to complete the r est of the term out of prison. This decision arises through a hearing by a parole board, unlike in probation where the judge makes the final decision (Bradley, Michael, 2001). Furthermore, probation accounts for part of the punishment made by a judge, while parole refers to supervision imposed after a term that already existed. According to relevant sources, parole allows the smooth transition of prison inmates into the society, while probation guides first offenders to limit the chances of committing other crimes. As established, probation and parole give offenders the chance to prove that one’s character may be improved. On the contrary, failure of meeting the conditions may result in even worse terms and further incarceration. To conclude, it is possible to say that parole and probation serve the same purpose of improving the behavior of an offender before reuniting with the society. Reference List Bradley, K., Michael, O. (2001). The Role of Parole. Retrieved from the C ommunity Resources for Justice. Web. Figgis, H. (1998). Probation: An Overview. Retrieved from the NSW Parliamentary Library Research Service. Web.Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Pew Center on the States. (2009). One In 31: The Long Reach of American Corrections. Retrieved from the Pew Charitable Trusts. Web. Thigpen, M., Thomas, B., George, K., Michael, G. (2003). Motivating Offenders to Change: A guide for Probation and Parole. Retrieved from the National Institute of Corrections. Web.

tracking

Tracking Thomas Jefferson once stated, â€Å"We are all created equal,† but we are not, we are all unique in different aspects in our lives, one aspect being the ability to learn. In Jeannie Oakes’ Tracking: Can Schools Take a Different Route?, she states, â€Å"Track level differences get produced as teachers and students interact at school.† The competition many students feel academically is hard and furious. Some students do not have the desire to compete and wish to merely go with the flow at school. This is the reason that tracking comes about in schools. The teachers notice the levels of competition the students feel, and make their decisions of how to teach based on how they respond in class. The ability of a student cannot truly be measured by an educator, but rather by the student himself. In all reality no one knows a person better than that person himself or herself. The student makes the decision about whether he or she wants to challenge him/herself more or less. Granted, as Jeannie Oakes states, â€Å"when schools group by ability, teachers are better able to target individual needs and students will learn more,† this may be true for the teacher, but if a student places him/herself into a higher ability group it may help to push and encourage him more academically being around people who have that higher ability. Many students are able to grasp one subject better than another, and they realize this on their own. â€Å"Tracking is both a response to significant differences among students and an ongoing contribution to those differences,† everyone knows their strengths and weaknesses and need not be reminded of them by being placed, by someone else, into an ability group. By doing so, again as Jeanne Oakes states, â€Å"students experience lower self-esteem and expect less of themselves when schools publicly identify them as less able.† Teachers have no excuse to give up on or be less enthusiastic towards their... tracking Free Essays on Grouping/tracking Tracking Thomas Jefferson once stated, â€Å"We are all created equal,† but we are not, we are all unique in different aspects in our lives, one aspect being the ability to learn. In Jeannie Oakes’ Tracking: Can Schools Take a Different Route?, she states, â€Å"Track level differences get produced as teachers and students interact at school.† The competition many students feel academically is hard and furious. Some students do not have the desire to compete and wish to merely go with the flow at school. This is the reason that tracking comes about in schools. The teachers notice the levels of competition the students feel, and make their decisions of how to teach based on how they respond in class. The ability of a student cannot truly be measured by an educator, but rather by the student himself. In all reality no one knows a person better than that person himself or herself. The student makes the decision about whether he or she wants to challenge him/herself more or less. Granted, as Jeannie Oakes states, â€Å"when schools group by ability, teachers are better able to target individual needs and students will learn more,† this may be true for the teacher, but if a student places him/herself into a higher ability group it may help to push and encourage him more academically being around people who have that higher ability. Many students are able to grasp one subject better than another, and they realize this on their own. â€Å"Tracking is both a response to significant differences among students and an ongoing contribution to those differences,† everyone knows their strengths and weaknesses and need not be reminded of them by being placed, by someone else, into an ability group. By doing so, again as Jeanne Oakes states, â€Å"students experience lower self-esteem and expect less of themselves when schools publicly identify them as less able.† Teachers have no excuse to give up on or be less enthusiastic towards their...

Post-Colonial Nigeria Political History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Post-Colonial Nigeria Political History - Essay Example Consequently, Nigeria not only remained dependent of the United Kingdom several years after the winning of freedom from the latter, but also turned out to be victim of ethnic-racial and religious conflicts after obtaining the status of a sovereign state. Hence, wide-scale corruption, red-tapism, nepotism, hoarding, lawlessness, unemployment and poverty remained the most dominant challenges faced by the country during its post-colonial years till today (Ihuegbu 2002). Like all the newly liberated nations on the map of the globe, Nigeria also experienced ethnic, racial, religious, regional and class discrimination in the country, where the communities belonging to eastern, western and northern parts of the vast country appeared to be determined to dominate over other ethnic and regional communities in one way or the other. Hence, Nigeria became the prey to civil war, and remained as the crowd of people after half century of breaking the shackles of slavery, which could not be stated as a nation in the real sense of the world. A coalition alliance under the title Nigerian People’s Congress came at the helm of the governmental affairs, through elections, in order to establish a conservative Islamic political system in the country. Since both Christian and Muslim communities are in majority in the country, the prominent leader of Christian-dominated National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904-1996) was nominated to be the first Governor General of Nigeria, who belonged to the majority Igbo ethnic group of Nigeria (Rustad 2008). Since the northern Yoruba community, having significant proportion in the national population, was not invited to participate in national affairs, they chose to form opposition alliance Action Group under the leadership of Obafemi Awolowo. Somehow, the differences among the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo ethnic tribes turned into political rivalries, where all these regional groups were determined to obtain politi cal supremacy in order to enforce the system of their choice subsequently. Since the unrest was in vogue in different parts of the country, where the communities were at daggers drawn in Nigeria, a plebiscite was held in 1961 in order to decide the fate of southerner and northern Cameroon, where the former voted in favor of Cameroon, while the latter decided to remain as an inevitable part of Nigeria (Rustad 2012). However, instead of introducing improvements in political structure, the country was dragged to a long-lasting bloody civil war, called Nigeria-Biafran War (1967-70), which paved the way towards the further division of the country into sects and factions causing heavy losses in men and material subsequently. The military personnel also added their share in bringing an end to the civilian government with the alleged allegations of corruption and favoritism is every area of the state. Like other third world countries of Asia and Africa, Nigeria also fell into the hands of t he military regime during early 1970s, which ended in 1979, resulting in the ruination of the social and economic fabrics of the country. The military ruler General Obasanjo assured the peaceful transfer of power to the elected civilian leader Shehu Shagari.