3 pros and cons to parole

Parole is basically known as the release of inmates or prisoners permanently when the expiry of their sentence is not over. The release is done through a coordinated approach by the guards and prison system who weigh their behavior, and they are released permanently on the promise of good practice. The prisoner agrees to specific terms and condition set by the authority because this is not amnesty (National Research Council, 2007). The parolees are still considered to be going through the sentence and once they go against the said terms and conditions set by the law enforcers, they be can be taken to face the whole jail term. This paper explores the pros and cons of parole in the United States.

In the U.S. the conditions given by the authorities usually comprise of, abstaining from alcohol and drug abuse, avoiding contact with the victims they had offended and after they acquire employment they are supposed to keep the required appointment materials with the parole officers (Jannetta, 2010). The parolees are supposed to follow the law, and in case there is an election, they are not supposed to take part in them. When a parolee has legal dependents like minor children, they are supposed to show the cause of being a responsible caregiver who is very dedicated to them.

One of the advantages is that parole helps some petty offenders, transition back to society after serving a sentence and showing good behavior in prison. Parole helps them adjust to life outside positively, and this helps the release of well-managed offenders who are not willing to repeat offenses. Only those with good behavior can be let to go on parole. Anyone of questionable behavior remains behind bars.

Parole has another advantage in that it also helps to control the population in the facilities as more and more offenders are arrested (Jinghua, 2008). There is a need to sustain this; the need for parole arises where the release of some is inevitable so that they can give room for new offenders to be incarcerated. Releasing some offenders is a better way than constructing new prisons. Research by U.S. courts showed that it was costly to sustain an offender in federal prison than it is in the social setting whereby in prison the cost was $80 per day while they were in the community it was $10. Releasing of some of them is thus better and cost-effective measure (National Research Council, 2007).  

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