About the Report The Report, Part II: Review of the Re-Entry Process:

chapters and policy statements:
About the Report of the Re-Entry Council

Policy Statement 18, Research Highlight 3

Many jurisdictions do not individually tailor conditions of release to the person about to return to the community.

Standard release plans frequently do not account for variations in the risk profiles and conditions of release for people re-entering the community. Yet, research shows that individual characteristics influence an offender's responsiveness to different types of programming, suggesting that targeted interventions work best. [1]   Conditions of release that correspond to the tailored needs, risks, and environmental conditions of releasees are likely to be more meaningful for these individuals, and may have a greater likelihood of improving outcomes. It is also important to note that the roles of victims and family members in providing input into the conditions of release have diminished, as discussed in Policy Statement 17. These parties are often very knowledgeable about the behavior patterns of individual offenders, and could assist parole officers in developing effective supervision and response strategies. [2]  

  1. US Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Implementing Evidence-Based Practice in Community Corrections: The Principles of Effective Intervention (Washington, DC: 2004). back
  2. Joan Petersilia, When Prisoners Come Home: Parole and Prisoner Reentry (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003). back
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