Overview

When discussing corrections, people often think of prisons or jails. However, incarceration represents only a minor portion of the broader field of corrections. In reality, only a small fraction of individuals convicted of crimes receive sentences that include incarceration, while the vast majority receive non-incarceration sentences, often involving fines, probation, or intermediate sanctions. Probation allows an offender to remain in the community under the supervision of a probation officer instead of serving time in jail or prison. Similarly, intermediate sanctions provide alternative sentencing options that avoid or limit incarceration, such as home confinement, electronic monitoring, and split sentencing, which provide judges more discretion to impose an appropriate punishment for less severe criminal offenses. Probation and intermediate sanctions are sentencing options typically granted to offenders convicted of less severe crimes, first-time offenders, or those deemed to benefit more from rehabilitation within the community. By utilizing a range of sentences, the criminal justice system aims to rehabilitate sanctioned individuals by addressing the root causes of crime while simultaneously holding them accountable with effective and appropriate punishments tailored to fit different types of offenses and offenders.

While only a minority of offenders are sentenced to incarceration, this group is highly likely to be released and reintegrated into the community. Statistics indicate that among individuals sentenced to incarceration, about 95% will eventually return to society (Hughes & Wilson, 2003). In some instances, individuals are granted early release from prison and returned to society under a parole system. The number of those under parole, combined with individuals sentenced to probation and intermediate sanctions, constitutes the total population of offenders who reside in the community under some form of correctional supervision. Specifically, this supervision is managed by community corrections, which plays a crucial role in managing and rehabilitating offenders while ensuring public safety.

Community corrections encompass a significant portion of the criminal justice system. In 2022, the total population under correctional supervision in the U.S. accounted for about 2% of the total adult population (Buehler & Kluckow, 2024). Within this framework, more than two-thirds of individuals were under community corrections supervision. This includes offenders released under parole supervision, those serving sentences of probation, and those subject to various forms of intermediate sanctions, which collectively far exceed the number of individuals incarcerated. Community corrections are vital for an effective and efficient criminal justice system, tasked with managing offenders, promoting rehabilitation, and facilitating the reintegration of previously incarcerated individuals into society.

As of 2022, probation stands as the most widely used sentencing option in the U.S., as illustrated in Figure 10.1. According to Buehler & Kluckow (2024), nearly 2,990,900 individuals were serving probation sentences across federal, state, local, and tribal jurisdictions on any given day in 2022. In addition, 698,800 individuals were under parole supervision during the same period. This totals approximately 3,689,700 individuals under community supervision in 2022 (Buehler & Kluckow, 2024). In other words, there were approximately 1,400 individuals per 100,000 adult U.S. residents under community supervision in 2022.

The following chapter provides a comprehensive exploration of community corrections, starting with an examination of intermediate sanctions. Intermediate sanctions are diverse punishments that provide alternatives to incarceration for less severe criminal offenses. They include strategies such as community service, day reporting programs, and electronic monitoring.

Following the discussion on intermediate sanctions, the chapter delves into the topic of probation. Although probation is not technically classified as an intermediate sanction, it is often grouped within this category due to its function as a non-incarceration sentence imposed by the court. Probation allows offenders to serve their sentences in the community under the supervision of a probation officer, provided they comply with specified conditions aimed at rehabilitation and public safety.

The chapter then transitions to a focus on incarceration, examining the role of risk and needs assessments during the intake and release processes within correctional facilities. It accentuates their critical role in determining the appropriate levels of supervision, interventions for individuals who are incarcerated, and developing program conditions for those under the purview of community corrections. Additionally, the chapter discusses various types of prison release, which vary based on jurisdiction as well as the needs, history, and circumstance of the individual.

Lastly, the chapter investigates parole, detailing the procedures and considerations involved in granting early release from prison. Parole seeks to facilitate the reintegration of offenders into society by providing structured support and supervision while promoting accountability and reducing recidivism rates.

Throughout the chapter, an emphasis is placed on understanding the complexities of community corrections, balancing goals of successful rehabilitation of individuals while maintaining public safety, and the integration of evidence-based practices to enhance the effectiveness of these correctional strategies.

Attributions

1. Chapter opening image: image released under the Pexels License
2. Figure 10.1: Distribution of U.S. Population Under Correctional Supervision, 2022 by Wesley B. Maier, for WA Open ProfTech, © SBCTC, CC BY 4.0