Probation is a form of punishment given to criminal offenders to help them change and become law-abiding citizens. If not well crafted, probation would not help in transforming the probationer which would, in fact, result in the probationer doing more activities against the law (Seiter, 2011). In the pre-trial investigation, the following history should be made clear; family, education level, past arrests, and housing (Seiter, 2011).
In the case study, Gravas Stanley, aged 41 years, earned probation for 2 years for driving while drunk. During the probation period, he had to attend drug treatment and family counseling sessions. Harrison Gary, aged 29 years, earned a sentence of 3 years on parole for being convicted of assault. He was undergoing; drug treatment, thorough supervision, psychiatric analysis, and anger-controlling drugs. Stanfield Kenneth, aged 26 years, earned probation for possessing marijuana. During the period, he got a job, housing and was undergoing alcohol and anonymous treatment. The review of their history informed the best parole or probation conditions to impose.
Outcomes of conditions selected
Gravas, who was serving 2 years probation following driving on alcohol, has taken the opportunity to change from a bad life. He attends alcohol and anonymous treatment and counseling sessions with his family routinely. He is addressing matters that contributed to alcohol abuse. He already understands that the matters have family and behavioral backgrounds.
Despite the fact that parolee Harrison earned 3 years parole on strict parole conditions, the 90 days review reveals that he is not changing his criminal behavior. For instance, he has assaulted his brother, and he is not attending alcohol treatment sessions. In addition, he is not taking drugs prescribed for bipolar disorder.
Probationer Kenneth has been making efforts to change. He has adhered to drug abuse counseling sessions, and this has paid off because his blood is free from drugs. Moreover, he has shifted into an apartment and is in employment.
Proposed changes based on the outcomes
The above examples reflect a highly delicate balance between parole or probation conditions and the expected outcomes. So far it is evident that the parolee Harrison is doing his criminal activities even on probation. In other words, he is getting worse. Family counseling would come in handy for the parolee because he needs to understand how to stay with siblings. Counseling would help him change because his violent behavior seems to stem from the mental and physical abuse he received from his late father. I would also propose to devise a better strategy upon realizing that the drugs prescribed to manage bipolar were not working.
In conclusion, the probationers are showing positive signs of changing their criminal behavior but parolee Harrison is not. It would be prudent to have Harrison imprisoned again. He may learn in prison because he is not changing from criminal behavior while on probation. He has already assaulted his brother, and this might be a pointer of worse things on the way. However, the probationers need to be monitored for more time while on probation. These two probationers are showing extremely good signs of rehabilitating, and they might have reformed fully by the end of their sentences.
Reference
Seiter, R. (2011). Corrections: An introduction (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:Pearson/Prentice Hall.