Since 2002, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, in conjunction with Federal Districts around the country, has undergone a series of philosophical, policy, and funding changes that intend to move the system towards an outcome-based focus. This article describes the history, current status of the system's attempts to become evidence-based,…

There is an emerging paradigm in probation and parole in the United States. That new outlook encompasses a realization that these forms of supervision of offenders must meet the challenges of an increasing number of parolees and probationers. Recidivism continues to be the primary outcome measure for probation, as it is for all corrections…

In recent years, increased legislative attention has been given to strategies to supervise sex offenders in the community. Among other policies, several states have passed laws calling for the use of electronic monitoring technologies to supervise sex offenders in the community. When initially developed, this community-based sanction was designed…

Supervision is an undervalued part of the correctional services. Over the last three decades, innovations have focused on increasing the number of contacts between the offender and the supervision employee, to little avail. A new generation of innovations is occurring in the supervision field that is directed at changing the interaction between…

Probation and parole supervision of undocumented immigrants in the United States presents numerous complications for state level community supervision agencies. States receive no budgetary assistance from the federal government for these offenders who may experience special difficulties such as language barriers in communication and understanding…

In 1999, the Queensland government trialled the Youth Justice Service which fundamentally changed the way supervision, rehabilitation and reintegration services were provided to young offenders on community based orders. The Youth Justice Service aims to monitor order compliance, address risk factors associated with the offending behaviour and…

Effectively identifying and responding to the psychosocial problems and recidivism risk of arrested youths remain critical needs in the field. Centralized intake facilities, such as juvenile assessment centers (JACs), can play a key role in this process. As part of a U.S. National Demonstration Project, the Miami-Dade JAC, serving a…