Walden University Community Based Corrections Plan Paper

In 2018, citizens of California voted in support of Proposition 57, a law allowing non-violent offenders to be eligible for parole before they completed their sentence. As a result, thousands of offenders were released into communities that were ill-prepared to offer adequate supervision and reintegration services, leaving many vulnerable to recidivism.

Given the passage of laws, such as Proposition 57, and the decarceration movement, criminal justice practitioners must be knowledgeable about community-based alternatives to incarceration and best practices for helping newly released offenders successfully reintegrate into their communities.

For this Assignment, imagine that the deputy mayor of your city contacts you to arrange a meeting to discuss how to reduce the number of inmates in local jails and prisons due to overcrowding. How would you respond? What plan would you put into place?

Submit a 1,000- to 1,200-word plan to inform the deputy mayor of the community-based alternatives to incarceration.

Organize your plan into the four parts noted below. Each part should address for your audience the details and questions below, and your response should have the characteristic of a proposal that presents a solution or answer to each question.

Part I: Diversion

In 250–300 words, address the following questions:

• In what circumstances would diversion be an appropriate alternative to arrest and incarceration? Be specific and support your response by referring to labeling theories.
• Which types of diversion programs would you recommend implementing in response to the crime problems in your city (or a city close to you)?

Part II: Probation

In 250–300 words, address the following questions:

• In which circumstances would probation be an appropriate alternative to incarceration?
• Which specific probation conditions do you think would be most effective for preventing recidivism and why?
• Which aspects of probation do you think probationers would find most challenging?

Part III: Parole and Reintegration

In 250–300 words, address the following questions:

• Is early release from prison a good strategy to reduce overcrowding? Why or why not?
• What are the primary challenges parolees might encounter during parole and reintegration? What factors might contribute to and detract from their success?
• Which community resources or programs would you recommend to ensure parolees’ success and reduce the likelihood of recidivism?

Part IV: The Role of Supervision

In 250–300 words, address the following questions:

• What are the roles of probation and parole officers in the supervision of probationers and parolees?
• How can you avoid or address the most significant challenges probation and parole officers encounter in their day-to-day activities?
• If you were given approval to hire additional probation and parole officers, what are some of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and dispositions you would look for in candidates? What kind of training would you recommend?