Maintaining Continuity in the Monitoring of Offenders

• In Event: Community Programs for and Supervision of Reentering Individuals

Abstract

Offender monitoring strategies employed by local police departments and probation and parole organizations can often overlap, conflict with, and even undermine efforts by other agencies. How do these local officials feel about efforts that are intended to work in concert? In this project funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, field interviews with agents responsible for the monitoring of offenders released from incarceration, with primary focus on sex offenders, provides background for discussion of the efficacy of offender monitoring strategies. Specifically, an examination of the state of Mississippi's procedures for tracking and supervising parolees and probationers is presented. Focus themes of project findings include existing communication patterns across agencies responsible for offender monitoring, identification of specific parties in each agency responsible for tasks related to offender monitoring, and procedural protocols in crisis situations. Additionally, budgeting constraints for technologies that would assist in these processes emerge as a discussion point for addressing offender monitoring efficacy. Policy recommendations and suggestions will follow from a discussion of findings.

Authors

• Lisa Nored, University of Southern Mississippi

• Charles Scheer, The University of Southern Mississippi