Deck 13: Ethics of Probation and Parole

Question 1

According to the text, which of the following is the most common sentence given to offenders today?

A) imprisonment
B) probation
C) death penalty
D) fine

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What is/are the reason(s) probation and parole officers are considered more professional than police?

A) hired at a relatively mature age
B) the civilian nature of their departments
C) their proximity to the courts
D) all of the above

Answer 2

D

Question 3

John Augustus has been recognized as:

A) the apostle or father of probation
B) the father of treatment
C) the father of parole
D) none of the above

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is a factor that contributes to the authors calling probation and parole "the borderless community"?

A) Probationers can range from first-time offenders to career criminals.
B) Officers are expected to provide both service and surveillance.
C) Both probation and parole are criticized for being ineffective.
D) all of the above

Question 5

What is the greatest benefit of community-based corrections from the perspective of its advocates?

A) freedom from incarceration
B) cost-effectiveness
C) family relationships can be maintained
D) all of the above

Question 6

Critics of probation and parole make which of the following arguments?

A) it is unconstitutional
B) it provides freedom from incarceration
C) it is too lenient
D) it helps maintain family relationships

Question 7

The Good Lives Model argues there should be what additional dimension of probation?

A) civil
B) criminal
C) spiritual
D) personal

Question 8

Which of the following factors contributes to the borderless community notion within probation/parole?

A) the thought that officers are overpaid
B) the idea that probation drastically reduces rates of recidivism compared to imprisonment
C) the politicization of probation/parole
D) none of the above

Question 9

The severity view of von Hirsch is based on the assumption that:

A) community-based corrections may not be effective
B) community-based corrections are expensive
C) community-based corrections may not be benign
D) community-based corrections are not important

Question 10

The work strategies of probation officers include:

A) detecting violations
B) brokering service for probationers
C) enforcing laws
D) all of the above

Question 11

What is the most significant responsibility for probation/parole officers?

A) fighting crime
B) supervising offenders
C) working with the courts
D) forging a client relationship

Question 12

Which of the following is not a recent development in the field of probation/parole?

A) reorientation towards risk-assessment
B) implementing the SAC model (e.g., Project Hope)
C) privatizing probation
D) officers visiting the homes of clients

Question 13

Von Hirsch raised which issue involving the severity of community-based corrections?

A) proportionality or just desert
B) restrictions against degradation
C) concerns about the intrusive nature of probation/parole
D) all of the above

Question 14

The balancing of which two concepts represents the ethical imperative of probation/parole?

A) justice and peace
B) control and care
C) punitiveness and leniency
D) physical and metaphysical

Question 15

What is meant by "cash-register" justice?

A) incarcerating offenders who are unable to pay
B) sole focus on collection of offender payments
C) making offenders who are unable to pay take out loans
D) both a and b

Question 16

Which of the following terms best describes the system wherein probation/parole officers are automatically given raises, which may incentivize them not to work as hard?

A) officer endowment system
B) criminal justice system
C) civil service system
D) none of the above

Question 17

Project HOPE is an example of what type of probation/parole model?

A) combined practitioner model
B) inactive and avoidance model
C) client-practitioner model
D) swift and certain sanctions model

Question 18

Which practitioner approach involves a balancing of community and correctional interests?

A) the combined model practitioner
B) the passive/time-server practitioner
C) the welfare/therapeutic practitioner
D) the punitive/law enforcement practitioner

Question 19

Which of the following is a drawback of the welfare/therapeutic practitioner approach?

A) practitioners often have limited behavioral modification knowledge
B) emphasizes a utilitarian approach
C) often includes political opportunists
D) both a and c

Question 20

Which of the following is a common corrupt practice engaged in by probation/parole officers?

A) adjusting risk assessment scores to reduce workload
B) not making claimed field visits
C) taking care of personal business during field visits
D) all of the above

Question 21

Probation departments are typically quasi-militaristic.

Question 22

The swift and certain punishment approach is based on a deterrence model of human behavior.

Question 23

Kiosks allow only high-risk offenders to report their status through a machine or computer station.

Question 24

Von Hirsch believes that probation/parole is too lenient of a punishment for offenders.

Question 25

Recent research indicates that there are effective, evidence-based interventions that can reduce recidivism.

Question 26

One reason that officers engage in unethical behavior is because they often have a lack of guidance on what they should be doing to assist probationers and parolees.

Question 27

The privatization of probation often leads to a reorientation of the system to instead emphasize the collection of fees and fines rather than rehabilitation.

Question 28

One argument for the restoration of voting rights to probationers is that many of them do not pay taxes.

Question 29

One recent trend in parole is for states to refuse to grant parole.

Question 30

An ethical challenge facing the probation/parole system is to ensure focus is not lost on the original intent to provide assistance to offenders so that they can remain in the community.

Question 31

Which practitioner model do you believe would be most effective in the field of probation/parole? Why?

Question 32

Do you agree with critics, like Frank Cullen, that swift and certain (SAC) models of probation leave little room for rehabilitative measures? Should probation emphasize rehabilitation, or do you think a deterrence-based model (like Project HOPE) which relies on punishment for all indiscretions would be more effective long-term?

Question 33

Do you agree with von Hirsch that probation may be too severe a sentence, or more with critics who believe it to be too lenient? Be sure to address and elaborate on various points made by individuals on both sides-and how they might interfere with the ethical administration of justice.

Question 34

The ethical imperative laid out in the book stipulates that probation officers must balance control and care when undertaking their duties. First, would it be possible for officers to exercise too much control or care? Second, what potential issues may arise when the ethical imperative is out of balance?