Probation and parole are often promoted as alternatives to incarceration that help formerly incarcerated people successfully re-enter society get back on their feet.
However, despite being seen as acts of leniency, parole and probation are both harsh and punitive.
However, despite being seen as acts of leniency, parole and probation are both harsh and punitive.
Today we published a new report with @HRW. It found that in reality, probation and parole drive high numbers of people right back to jail or prison, while in many cases failing to help them get the services and resources necessary to re enter society. aclu.org/report/aclu-an…
In our analysis, people — disproportionately Black and Brown — were incarcerated for violating the rules of supervision or for low-level crimes, and receive disproportionate punishment following proceedings that fail to adequately protect fair trial rights hrw.org/news/2020/07/3…
People on supervision are required to submit to wide-ranging, vague, and oppressive conditions, like paying fines and fees they cannot afford, reporting address changes even when they lack housing stability, and staying away from “disreputable” people.
Rather than diverting people from incarceration, probation and parole are feeding jail and prison populations. In 2017, 45% of all state prison admissions resulted from supervision violations.
Governments should divest from supervision and incarceration and invest in jobs, housing, and health care.
By investing in communities, we can work to break the supervision-to-incarceration pipeline, and help people get the resources they need.
By investing in communities, we can work to break the supervision-to-incarceration pipeline, and help people get the resources they need.
