One of the factors that have contributed to this success is the allocation of more resources. The program is therefore, able to give specialized services to individual offenders. Additionally, the distribution of more resources to probation programs made it possible to apply ways for the government to encourage behavioural change.
The reduction in the number of Americans on probation is an indication that the countries penal system is thriving. Although the success rates of probation programs in the United states have not been comparing favorably with those of other countries, there is hope that the rate will improve. The United Kingdom is one of the countries that has had a higher success rate in its probation programs than the United States has. “One factor that has contributed to increased success rate in the United Kingdom’s probation programs is the delegation concept” (Humphreys, 2016). The government in the UK allows private companies and charity organizations to take the responsibility of low risk offenders while the government through the probation service supervises low risk offenders.
The delegation concept in the management of probation programs in the United Kingdom makes sure there is efficient utilization of funds because the private companies are paid based on results. The responsibility of running the probation programs is given on a contractual basis to the most deserving and capable organizations. The companies that win the contract to use probation and rehabilitation programs are motivated to provide high quality services and supervision. Consequently, the rate of repeat offences is minimized and the success rate of probation programs is increased. The United Kingdom is one of the countries that is able to prove that efficiency in the utilization of funds that contributes to the success of rehabilitation and probation programs.
Similarly, Canada is one of the countries that has a lower success rate in its probation and rehabilitation programs than the United States. “The rate of probation in the United States is estimated to be five times more than the average of the European countries” (Alper, Corda, & Reitz, 2016). This difference in the probation rate is caused by the fact that the United States uses a community supervision system. The probationers have a responsibility to the community. Their activities are closely monitored and hence the chances of them being involved in repeat crimes is low. The benefit of having a supervisor who belongs to the same community as the probationer is that they know the offender well and can effectively monitor them. Having a community supervisor saves money. The probationer and supervisor do not have to travel over long distances for their engagements. Countries that are not specific about having community supervisors should, therefore, adopt this system because it provides a more efficient way of using money meant for probation and rehabilitation activities.
Although the United States has decentralized its probation programs, it could still adopt a more effective system like the one used in the United Kingdom. Instead of having states governments managing the rehabilitation and probation programs, the government could give the responsibility of handling non-violent offenders to private organizations. This system would make sure that funds intended for probation and rehabilitation programs are used more effectively. The success rate of the programs is more likely to improve if the compensation for organizations running the programs is based on results and what they achieve.
The rate of incarceration in the United States is the leading across the world. Therefore, it has a higher burden of ensuring that its penal system is effective. The country, therefore, must invest in alternatives to incarceration which include probation and rehabilitation. “Investing adequate resources in probation and rehabilitation programs helps to improve the success rate a country’s programs” (Gelsthorpe & Morgan, 2013). Probably more than any country in the world, the United States has a reason to want a high success rate for its rehabilitation and probation programs. Having its programs perform well will help to decongest prisons and also provide a more efficient solution to its penal system. It will also improve the country’s probation program success rate which is an indication of the government’s commitment and good will in dealing with criminal justice.
Probation and rehabilitation programs are an ideal replacement of imprisonment especially for nonviolent offenders. The United States has too many people who spend a long time in prison unnecessarily. Not only is the high jail population costly for the country but it also denies it the contribution of the inmates who would be doing something useful for their communities and the nation if they were not in prison. Being in prison limits the meaningful things that a person can do which can positively impact the country. Probation and rehabilitation are an alternative to imprisonment because they give offenders a chance to participate in economic growth of the country (Armstrong & Weaver, 2013). The government should expand probation and rehabilitation programs so that they can accommodate more people and decongest prisons.
Additionally, the government can ensure that offenders do not spend a long time in prison unnecessarily by providing rehabilitation services for nonviolent offenders. Additionally, drug offenders who have not been involved in trafficking can also be placed on probation and rehabilitation programs. The government should consider the cost that it will incur before making a decision of whether to imprison someone or place them on probation (Deering & Feilzer, 2015). The cost should be compared against the crime that they have committed. If the cost is too high and the crime committed is not violent in nature, then the government should consider taking the cheaper alternative which will most probably be probation or rehabilitation.
The government should invest in rehabilitation programs for offenders who are found to be in possession of drugs but are not involved in trafficking. Rehabilitation programs would give these people an opportunity to get treated and recover from drugs. Treating them would enable them to become responsible citizens who can contribute positively to the society. “Imprisoning non-violent drug offenders only increases congestion in prisons but it does not resolve the problem of drugs” (Turner, 2016). Additionally, it is violation of a person’s rights because imprisoning a drug addict and not treating them causes them a lot of suffering and it may lead to death. Conversely, rehabilitation changes their behaviour and transforms their lives which makes it the better alternative.
“Instead of spending more money in the prison system which is extremely costly, the government should establish and maintain effective treatment and rehabilitation programs for nonviolent drug offenders” (Canton, 2013). Rehabilitation takes a shorter time than most prison sentences and it, therefore, gives the offender an opportunity to be integrated back to the society after completion of treatment. Additionally, enrolling a nonviolent drug offender to a rehabilitation program yields better results than having them in jail for a long time. In a rehabilitation program, they get effective treatment and psychosocial support that help them to transform, but in prison they do not get specialized care that meet their needs. Rehabilitation and probation programs are, therefore, more effective in correcting and transforming nonviolent drug offenders than long prison sentences.
Moreover, rehabilitation is effective when dealing with juvenile offenders. The first priority when dealing with minors who commit non-violent crimes should be professional counselling services, supervision and treatment where applicable. Subjecting minors to long prison sentences denies them the opportunity to effectively explore their greatest potential. Minors should be corrected within the shortest time possible so that they can be released to continue with their regular lives. “Rehabilitation is effective when dealing with nonviolent criminals who are minors because they may have committed the crimes due to influence or pressure from other people” (Armstrong & Weaver, 2013). Counselling and supervision in rehabilitation programs can, therefore, transform them and avoid repeat offences.
In conclusion, probation and rehabilitation are viable alternatives to incarceration. They help to reduce the cost of the penal system and reduce overpopulation in prisons. However, effective rehabilitation and probation services requires adequate resources. The research on how Americans can utilize money towards probation and rehabilitation programs will provide a guideline to the government on the areas where it needs to invest in to realize better outcomes. The research also informs the government on the alternatives to consider when investing in rehabilitation and probation programs. Additionally, the research justifies why probation and rehabilitation are viable alternatives in addressing the challenges facing the penal system in the United States. The impact of this research on the general public is that it will encourage them to support probation and rehabilitation programs. The support of the public is essential in the implementation of probation or rehabilitation programs and particularly the integration of the person into society.