Probation and parole — the under-researched arms of mass incarceration
Sep 27, 2023
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The podcast explores the overlooked aspects of probation and parole in the mass incarceration system, discussing their impact on communities, disparities based on race and poverty, and the potential need for their abolition. It also shares personal anecdotes and experiences, and offers insights into transforming troubled facilities. The episode concludes with expressions of gratitude, teaser for the next episode, and sponsor ads.
Probation and parole are major contributors to the high incarceration rates and pose a significant human rights violation.
The historical shift from rehabilitation to punishment and surveillance in probation and parole has had negative consequences for individuals and communities.
Deep dives
The Reality of Community Supervision
The podcast episode discusses the reality of community supervision, particularly probation and parole, and its impact on individuals' lives. It highlights the case of a probation violation due to crossing state lines without permission. It also reveals the staggering number of individuals on probation or parole, with one in 22 adults in Philadelphia being under supervision. The episode explores how probation and parole violations, which are not new crimes, contribute to the high incarceration rates. It emphasizes the racial disparities in the system, with people of color being disproportionately affected. The episode argues for a need to pay more attention to community supervision and suggests experimenting with alternative approaches and potentially reducing or abolishing probation and parole.
The History of Probation and Parole
The podcast delves into the historical origins of probation and parole. It explains that probation began in 19th century Boston with John Augustus, who bailed people out of jail and sought to rehabilitate them. Parole, on the other hand, started in Australia as an experiment in prisoner release. The episode traces how these systems evolved and became part of the criminal justice system in the United States. However, it highlights the shift in focus from rehabilitation to punishment, deterrence, and risk reduction. This shift occurred during the Nixon administration, when the war on drugs was launched. The episode argues that the emphasis on punishment and surveillance has led to negative consequences for individuals and communities.
Issues with Community Supervision
The podcast episode explores the various challenges and issues associated with community supervision. It discusses the excessive surveillance in certain neighborhoods, where a large portion of the population is under state supervision. It highlights the difficulties faced by individuals on probation and parole, such as scheduling conflicts with work, housing segregation, and restrictions on associating with felons. The episode also addresses the role of poverty in exacerbating these challenges, as individuals struggle to comply with the requirements and find resources for housing, drug treatment, and employment. Additionally, the episode raises concerns about the wide discretion given to probation and parole officers and the lack of checks and oversight.
The Case for Abolishing or Reforming Community Supervision
The podcast episode presents arguments for reforming or abolishing community supervision. It discusses the potential to reduce the incarcerated population by eliminating or reducing technical violations and making the system more lenient. The episode highlights the high costs associated with community supervision and suggests redirecting resources towards housing, job programs, education, and mental health services. It also raises the possibility of conducting experiments in communities where there are high numbers of people on probation for misdemeanors and studying the outcomes. The episode acknowledges the need to challenge the current incremental approach and calls for a deeper examination of the effectiveness and impact of community supervision.
In the past decade, the problem of mass incarceration has gotten increased attention and thought. But in his new book, Mass Supervision, Vincent Schiraldi argues that in those conversations, people often neglect to think about probation and parole — two of the biggest feeders to the U.S.'s prison population. These systems surveil close to four million Americans, which Schiraldi says is both a huge waste of resources and a massive human rights violation. On this episode, we're talking to Schiraldi about how probation and parole came to be, why they're no longer working as they were once supposed to, and why he thinks they might need to be done away with entirely.
