Parole Officers Can Make the Difference

The relationship between a parolee and a parole officer should not be complicated.

Parolees are people, and officers are in the business of people. Policies and procedures govern both parolees and parole officers. However, principles are the bigger “P” that would allow both parties to gain trust. Applying principles consistent with the higher goal of the parole officer and parolee should eventually end in a successful divorce. Officers are trained and issued a badge with an oath to serve and protect. Therefore, this application calls for the mindset of parole agents, the Alpha of the two, to be focused on respect, re-entry, and rehabilitation. 

I have had numerous conversations with many parole agents, and the mindset of each varied in almost every case. The veteran supervising agents spoke about identifying and approaching complications within the relationship between their officers and parolees. They agreed that deeper knowledge and constant contact were the top ways to create better environments and relationships. By reading the parolee’s history and familiarizing themselves with those they govern, newer agents can better understand their job and use their authority correctly. 

After speaking with several parole agents from the Pennsylvania State Parole, Dauphin County Adult Probation in Pennsylvania, including a retired military veteran and 50-year-old career parole officer, who is still in the field in the private sector, many of them agreed. They agreed that they had parolees who finished with the judicial system and walked a straight line to complete supervision successfully. Yet, they have also encountered parolees who ended their relationship with multiple violations and gained new charges, an automatic violation of probation.

Parolees are people who have been released from prison and have an opportunity to begin anew. The initial process is often met with supreme confidence. Most parolees first say to their supervising agents that they are ready to be productive members of society after prison stints. This is a common statement that almost EVERY parole agent hears when they first meet and discuss the terms of the supervision. This conversation will always be the most important meeting between the two. It is the feeling-out process, stating that both sides are hopeful that principles are in order. A positive showing in the parolee mindset is that most parolees have a “game plan” and do not necessarily consider returning to prison.

However, it is known that recidivism rates in the U.S. are among the highest in the world, with an estimated 44% of criminals returning to prison within their first 18 months of release. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Corrections recently released a recidivism report for 2022, which is frightening. According to their statistics, the current recidivism rate is 64.7% three years after release; anything above 35-40% should be of concern.

Recidivism rates in the U.S. are among the highest in the world, with an estimated 44% of criminals returning to prison within their first 18 months of release

The bottom line is that the relationship between a parolee and a parole agent should not be complicated. I would encourage parolees to view parole agents as a resource instead of reluctant partners. As for parole officers, continue to focus on respect, re-entry, and rehabilitation while having hope for the people who stand as parolees. Building a system of accountability and transparency will always positively affect both sides. As I stated, the relationship between the parole officer and parolee should not be complicated.