...Phoenix | Parole and Truth in Sentencing | CJS/200-Foundations of the Criminal Justice System | | Roy Burgess II | 3/30/2014 | The parole system is an integral part of the U.S. criminal justice system. The functions of parole are closely tied to the laws regarding truth in sentencing. The focus of this paper is to outline the concepts related to the parole system and the intent of the truth in sentencing laws. | The early release of an inmate from a correctional facility is defined as parole. The goal of parole is to provide a means for an inmate to gradually reenter society and lead a productive life. There are two types of parole, discretionary parole and mandatory parole. An inmate that is eligible for discretionary parole must go before a parole board to show that they are no longer a threat to society and that they are capable of beginning to rebuild their lives and becoming a productive member of society. Mandatory parole is determined by the sentencing guidelines and is not under the control of the parole board. After an inmate has served a predetermined amount of time according to sentencing, they are automatically released from custody. Both forms of parole have specific conditions that must be followed and failing to do so could result in the individual returning to prison. The conditions of parole vary according to the jurisdiction, but they also share some of the same restrictions and requirements. One condition that is common under parole is the...
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...Parole and Truth-in-Sentencing Parole is a program that helps those that have been incarcerated return to civilian life after serving a portion of their sentenced time. Probation differs from parole as a program, because probation allows those that commit crimes to avoid serving time in prison. It usually requires that they pay a fine and complete several requirements, including community service, or house arrest. Parole, on the other hand, is a program meant for those that have been incarcerated to be released from their sentence early. “Whereas probation is a sentencing strategy, parole is a corrections strategy whose primary purpose is to return offenders gradually to productive lives. By making early release possible, parole can also act as a stimulus for positive behavioral change” (Schmalleger, 2010). As an incentive, parole was developed to stimulate inmates to follow proper behavior while incarcerated. Conditions that affect parole usually include inmate’s behavior while imprisoned, terms of their sentencing that can allow or deny parole, and the decision of parole boards. Other conditions require parolees to remain in the state they are released to, report to parole officers periodically, as well as maintain stable employment. There are two types of parole. Discretionary parole allows parole boards to decide parole terms for inmates based on judgment and assessment. Mandatory parole, on the other hand, is dictated by terms of statutory decrees. These decrees set release...
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...Truth-in -Sentencing Debate Truth in sentencing law deter crime Truth in sentencing refers to a range of sentencing practices that aim to reduce the uncertainty about the length of time that offenders must serve in prison. During the 1990s, throughout the states and in the federal government there was considerable legislative activity related to truth in sentencing. By 1999, 41 states and the District of Columbia had passed laws or implemented some form of truth in sentencing, but the forms of truth in sentencing varied among the states. Truth in sentencing law deters crime by showing offenders that regardless of things such as good behavior or time served the possibility of early release is unlikely. My state of Maryland unlike other state does not have a truth in sentencing law put into place. Some states have eliminated parole release for good behavior or work time credits to impose determinate sentences, which permits relatively precise release dates, assuming that good time credits were earned. Other states have retained parole release, potentially introducing ambiguity into actual release dates. This is supposed to increase the certainty about a minimum amount of time that must be served prior to release. There was a case of drug trafficking in the Baltimore Jail around this time last year if Maryland had a truth in sentencing law in place the offend would not have been eligible for parole or early release after doing 75% of their 9 year sentence. Since they...
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...Parole How I describe the goals and conditions of parole is parolee’s who are released to the community for a period of parole supervision has Conditions of Parole set upon their release. Also parolee’s have special conditions for themselves they have to follow. Not one parolee is the same for conditions which is where special conditions come in. Every parolee has their own special conditions to meet their needs to help their chances of finishing parole. An inmate becomes eligible for parole according to the type of sentence they received from the court. There is a date which is called parole eligibility date which is when the earliest time the offender might be paroled. If the Parole Commission Board decides to grant an inmate parole, it will set the date of release, but the date must be on or after the parole eligibility date. The process for parole begins at sentencing. Unless the court has specified a short time for the offender to serve time, or has imposed an indeterminate type of sentence, parole eligibility occurs upon completion of one-third or one-fourth of the term. If an offender is serving a life sentence or a term or terms of 30 years or more he or she will become eligible for parole after 10 years. When deciding whether to grant parole the Board for most considers all of the following factors nature of the offense, prior criminal history, program participation, length of time served, institutional record, and community support or opposition. Truth in sentencing...
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...Jail and Prisons Archie Parks CJA/204 November 27, 2011 Ross Thompson Jail and Prisons Introduction Prisons and Jails play an intricate part in the criminal justice corrections system. They are responsible for housing and rehabilitating some of the United States most dangerous criminals. This paper will explain the different types of prisons explain prison concepts and discuss why jails are important in the criminal justice system. In addition, prison strategies for dealing with violent behavior and the role parole plays in the strategic handling of inmates. Types of prisons There are four types of prisons within the United States Criminal Justice system. Each of the four types are stated below: 1. Local Prison: Local prisons within the United States criminal justice system are commonly referred to as Jails. Jails are used by cities to detain persons who have been accused of committing a crime while awaiting trial when bail has not been granted or cannot be paid. County Jails can detain prisoners for up to 18 months. 2. State Prisons: State Prisons are prisons who maintained by the state and used to house criminals who have been convicted of violating state statutes. State prisons are maintained and managed utilizing funds from the state budget. 3. Federal Prisons: Federal Prisons are used to house criminals who have been convicted of violating federal laws. Federal prisons are maintained by the Federal Government and are maintained and managed using...
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...Jail and Prison Paper Tameki Reed CJA/204 05/31/11 Robert White Jail and Prison Paper When it comes to jail and prison, there is a distinctive set of differences. Jail is a place of incarceration that is locally operated, while prisons are conducted by the state government or the federal government. Within the United States, there are about 3,600 jails but there are only about 100 federal prisons or rehabilitation facilities. Jails house inmates who have been convicted of a misdemeanors and their sentence is no greater than two years. In addition, a person may be held in jail while awaiting trial, has an unpaid bond, or was recently jailed. If a person is convicted of a state crime he or she will serve their sentence in a state prison as opposed to federal crimes which lands offenders in federal prisons. A jail’s amenities are very limited because of the light sentence and short periods of time spent there. A county jail offers work release, substance abuse programs, and may provide basic necessities to inmates. Prisons also offer work release programs, vocational training, halfway houses, as well as recreational facilities. Inmates at prisons will serve decades within the facility while others have to serve lifetime sentences behind bars. A major concern of prison staff and administrators is disruptive and violent behavior. Their concerns pertain to the safety of inmates as well as employees of the prison facility. Disruptive and violent behavior is not tolerated in...
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...Jail and Prison In the criminal justice system once a crime is committed and the criminal has gone to court and has pled guilty, or has gone to trial and has been convicted of the rime it can result in a few different ways. For instance, if the crime was severe enough it could result in jail or prison time. Both jail and prison are two components of the suffering the consequences of committing a crime, and can also determine whether the time fits the crime or was the criminal punished in a fair matter. Some criminal’s crimes are so severe that they are sentenced to life in prison. Jails are facilities designed to hold criminals waiting for a trial. They are also designed to hold inmates serving twelve months or less for the crimes they committed. Federal Prisons are designed for people convicted of federal crimes. State prisons are for criminals convicted of crimes of the state, or of crimes committed in that state. Minimum Security Prisons are the most open and least restricted prisons. They hold criminals convicted of non-violent crimes such as forgery, cheating on taxes, and perjury. Medium Security Prisons are more open then maximum security but less open than minimum security prisons. The inmates are convicted of crimes such as assault and thefts. Maximum Security Prisons generally hold prisoners serving longer sentences. Inmates are convicted of crimes such as murder, kidnapping and other felonies. (library.thinkquest.org) A total institution is place of work and residence...
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...Sentencing in America Jim Harper CJA/234 March-25, 2013 Mary Walker Sentencing in America Trials in America can be lengthy process. Even when there is a large amount of evidence against a defendant, the trial process may still carry on for months or even years. In the end, however, there must be a verdict. That verdict will either be innocent or guilty. If the defendant is found innocent he or she can be set free. However, if the defendant if the defendant is found guilty he or she must be sentenced. The sentencing aspect of the trial process belongs to the judge. The judge must weigh many factors before handing down the sentence. The judge must determine a fair and proper sentence to fit the crime. Too much may spark outrage in the public, as will too light of a sentence. The judge must find a way to serve true justice to the defendant. However, generally no matter what the sentence is, someone will be dissatisfied. Over the next few paragraph, how these sentences affect the correction system and the overall objective will be examined. The difference between in determinate and indeterminate sentencing will also be examined. Objective and Effects of Sentencing The overall goal of sentencing a person is to deter future criminal acts. Some people believe that inmates should be sentenced for rehabilitation, whereas others believe in strictly deterrence. With America’s “tough on crime” stance, the model tends to be...
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...sometimes linked with an intermediate sanction, so offenders spend part of their sentence in jail or prison and part of their sentence under supervision in the community. Finally, there are sentences of death. For sentences of incarceration, indeterminate and determinate sentences are the two primary models used throughout the United States, although there are many variations for each of these. Indeterminate sentences blend the decision by the sentencing judge and a later decision by a release authority to determine the actual time served. At the time of sentencing, judges sentence offenders to indeterminate sentences, with a minimum and maximum amount of time to be served (for example, two to five years or ten to twenty years). After serving the minimum term, offenders are eligible to be released and their cases are reviewed by a parole board. The parole board determines the release date any time between the minimum and maximum sentence. If a parole board never grants parole, the offender serves the maximum sentence and then must be released. The parole decision and postrelease supervision in the community are described in Chapter 6. indeterminate sentences sentences that have a minimum and maximum time to serve; a decision by a release authority determines the actual time served within that range As the Reformatory Era of prison operations was initiated in the United States around 1870, many states and prisons began to implement the concepts of rehabilitation and preparing inmates for...
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...sentenced to jails or prison far exceed that of those sentenced for violent crimes and property crimes. The creation of truth-in-sentencing laws, as well as deterioration of godly, and family morals and values also play a significant factor. There are also those that would argue that television, movies, and video games also play a large role in the violent offender category. To put it in a nut shell, this nation has taken the view that it is easier to lock criminals up that to deal with them in other manners (Peak, 2007, p 244). In 1984 Washington State introduced truth-in-sentencing laws for inmates. The idea behind this was to restrict or eliminate good time credits as well as parole. Other states were quick to follow after it was determined in 1966 that inmates were only serving on average 44 percent of their sentence. In order to insure that inmates served more of their sentence, additional moneys were appropriated by the United States Congress for prisons and jails providing they were in compliance with truth-in-sentencing services and programs. As part of the conditions of receiving funding, states were required to insure that inmates completed a minimum of 85 percent of their sanction. As of 1998, approximately 27 states as well as the District of Columbia have qualified for Congressional funding as where 14 other states have gotten rid of early parole all together (Peak, 2007, p 244). A rational shift concerning the reason of imprisonment also added to crowded prisons...
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...What is the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994? The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, also known as the 1994 Crime Bill, was a comprehensive piece of legislation passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 13, 1994. It was one of the largest crime bills in U.S. history and aimed to address various issues related to crime and law enforcement. There are seven key provisions of the 1994 Crime Bill which include the federal assault weapons ban, community oriented policing services (Cops), Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth-in-Sentencing Incentive Grants, Death Penalty Provisions, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Youth Violence Prevention Program,...
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...Course Syllabus ________________________________________________________ CJS 200 Foundations of the Criminal Justice System Course Start Date: 08/01/2011 Group ID: AAGR0Z9835 Facilitator: Lee Rankin Copyright Copyright © 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. University of Phoenix® is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft®, Windows®, and Windows NT® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation. Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix® editorial standards and practices. ------------------------------------------------- Course Description This course is an introductory overview of the organization and jurisdictions of local, state, and federal law enforcement, judicial and corrections agencies, and processes involved in the criminal justice systems. It examines the historical aspects of the police, the courts, and the correctional system, as well as the philosophy. Additionally, career opportunities and qualifying requirements, terminology, and constitutional limitations of the system will also be covered. ------------------------------------------------- Course Topics...
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...Sentencing Paper Joan Hamm CJA 234 October 12, 2015 Dennis Holder Sentencing Paper An analysis of the state and federal objectives of punishment are the consequences or penalties for a crime(s) that have been committed. The punishment ensures that the offender is adequately punished for the offences they are being accused of. The implementation of punishment is to prevent the criminal behavior by deterring the offender from committing similar offences. Usually punishment applies to the offender per the crime that has been committed (Hamilton, 2014). If the accused is a repeat offender of federal crime then they go to a federal prison, for almost every other crime the offender goes to a state prison. A prison-- whether it be state or federal, main objectives is preventing and controlling criminal behavior and acts. There are seven usual punishments depending on the judge’s and/or the jury’s decision at trial (Hamilton, 2014). The minimum sentences like Intensive supervision such as: parole, house arrest, probation, etc., Rehabilitation such as: counseling, drug rehab, restitution, community service, fines, etc. On the contrary, more sever punishments include: capital punishment and incarceration. This type of sentencing is imposed as a criminal sanction by a judicial authority. Mandatory minimums, such as: the three strikes laws and sentencing guidelines require specific sentences. It is done with little consideration of personal factors as it pertains to offenders, their...
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...again. All punishments are enforced to help the community be protected from offenders. Not only are offenders being kept off the streets, they are also changing for the better and rehabilitating themselves to change their behaviors. In fact, the sole purpose of punishment within the state and federal corrections system is to deterrence, incapacitate, and rehabilitate criminals to reduce further crimes from occurring. Most importantly, punishments are helping offenders realize what harms they have done to the victims of their crimes and to the community as well. After being punished, most offenders have come to realize all the damages they have done and they understand that their actions affected many individuals. Punishing offenders by sentencing them to many months or even years in prison isn’t always very beneficial. State and federal prisons require a lot of money to keep inmates fed and clothed. Not...
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...state of Missouri executed Larry Griffin for allegedly murdering a man in a drive-by shooting. ("Executed") Griffin maintained his innocence until his death, and in 2007 the St. Louis Circuit Attorney found that Griffin was guilty, due to a false witness testimony. It goes to show that many people sit on death row waiting to get executed are in all actuality guilty of their crime. You can keep a killer off the streets without executing them, by giving them life without parole. It won't be easy for the criminal, for he will be thinking about how he will spend the rest of his life locked up, knowing he will never get out. According to an issue in the ACLU of Northern California, letting a person die while serving a sentence of life without parole, is 3x cheaper and also protects any mistakes of sentencing an innocent person, than sentencing them to death. ("The Truth About") Many studies have shown that it cost more to execute a person, rather than letting them serve life in prison. The process of sentencing a person to death is a lengthy more complex time frame than most cases. Money is being poured into death penalty cases, and most of the time there is no execution. In California,...
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