Do Female Parolees Talk More? A Workload Study Measuring Interactions Between Parolees and Agents

• In Event: Prisoner Reentry Programs: Components and Processes

Abstract

With approximately 3,000 females on parole, California’s Division of Adult Parole Operations has implemented a range of gender-responsive strategies for making supervision more responsive to the unique needs of female offenders. One such initiative is the implementation of gender-responsive caseloads for female parolees; parole agents have been trained in gender-responsivity and develop expertise in delivering programs and services tailored to females. In response to concern about the amount of work involved in supervising a female-only caseload, UC Irvine’s Center for Evidence-Based Corrections, in collaboration with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Office of Research, conducted a workload study. For five weeks in Spring, 2016, a sample of 46 agents completed daily activity logs, capturing details of face-to-face interactions with parolees. The workload study yielded a rich data set of 968 logs describing over 3,000 interactions. We explore differences and similarities in agent contacts with female and male parolees, specifically looking at agent behaviors that demonstrate responsivity. We discuss the extent to which female parolees are more work, or different work, than male parolees, and talk about implications for supervision.

Authors

• Helen Braithwaite, University of California, Irvine

• Theresa Lavery, University of California, Irvine

• Holly Westfall, University of California, Irvine

• Susan Turner, University of California, Irvine