American Probation and Parole Association Research Proposal

American Probation and Parole Association - Research Proposal Example This is because the traditional custodial sentences are likely to cause more wrong for the offender and the society when compared with probation. Probation therefore keeps a person under the control and management of a probation officer who has the duty to ensure that the offender complies with the terms and requirements placed on him by the courts. A similar form of probation is handed down to convicted prisoners who have spent a portion of their jail terms. This is known as a parole. A parole is â€Å"a planned community release and supervision of incarcerated offenders before the expiration of their full prison sentences† (Siegel and Worall, 2012 p67). These two forms of punishments imposed by the courts are meant to promote the integration of offenders back into society and also prevent the unnecessary incarceration of persons in overcrowded jails. The America Probation and Parole Association (APPA) is the national association of parole and probation officers charged with the supervision of offenders who are placed on parole or probation. They are considered to be part of the correctional system, however, they play a significant role in the criminal justice system because they are a link between the correctional system and the legal system (Banks, 2004). The fudamental duties of probational officers include: 1. Supervising offenders 2. Maintaining contacts with parolees and probationers. 3. Provide counseling services for parolees and probationers. 4. Resolve conflict involving the treatment, integration and surveillance of parolees and probationers. 5. Writing reports about probation and paroles for the courts (Banks, 2004). The APPA members are required to exhibition professionalism, uphold the law, work with objectivity, co-operate with relevant professionals, recognize and practice the principles of APPA and maintain public faith in the criminal justice system (Banks, 2004). From these ideals and standards, APPA members and officers are required to work according to very high standards and provide a very effective service to the society. However, in reality, there are significant issues that stand in their way. A lot of these problems are identified in journals and books that were presented by professionals who are related to the criminal justice industry. Some of them are explored below in the literature review. Literature Review â€Å"Probation officers supervise two-thirds of all correctional clientele in the United States† (Petersilia, 1997 p149). This means that they have a lot of work to do. And relative to prison officers, they are more burdened in terms of workload (Petersilia, 1997). However, in spite of their effort, they have a limited budget that is much lower than what the prison officers and correctional service officers receive. Also, they are ill-equipped and as such, felons go unsupervised. This gives them an image as lenient officers in the criminal justice system. Petersilia and Turner (1993) studi ed the intensive supervision program that was instituted in the early 1980s closely. This program allowed parole and probation officers to undertake close survillance, urinalysis testing, treatment and employment of convicted offenders. This was a very strict method of