Blog - PROBATION INFORMATION NETWORK

One Size Fits None

Prison Policy Initiative’s new report, One Size Fits None, studies the standard conditions of probation across all 50 states. Topics of the study include:

• Financial burdens • Movement and travel restrictions • Relationship or “association” restrictions • Searches • Other unnecessary and discriminatory rules around conduct

From Prison Policy Initiative: One Size Fits None: How ‘standard conditions’ of probation set people up to fail Courts and probation agencies impose a standard set of rules on everyone under their supervision, before tacking on any extra restrictions. Our national review finds these mandatory rules are often unnecessarily burdensome and incredibly vague, making it all too easy to “fail” at probation and land behind bars. Read the full study here: One Size Fits None The Prison Policy Initiative is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization. Visit them at www.prisonpolicy.org.

New Reentry Guides

Check out our newest reentry guides Reentry Education Guide Education is a cornerstone of success and can broaden your opportunities upon reentry. It will assist you in becoming more employable, provide access to more resources, and give you a sense of personal fulfillment. Pursuing your GED or HiSET, certification or trade programs, and higher education are all possible both while still in custody and post-incarceration. www.probationinfo.org/reentry-education-guide Reentry Employment Guide Obtaining employment is important when it comes to a successful reentry and will help you become financially stable, self-sufficient, and have a sense of belonging amongst your community. This Reentry Employment Guide includes job training and job search resources; tips for cover letters, resumes, and job interviews; employer benefits of hiring justice-impacted individuals; entrepreneurship details; and record clearing resources. …

Guide to Trade Careers for Formerly Incarcerated People

Guide to Trade Careers for Formerly Incarcerated People PrimeWeld offers this guide to why returning citizens should consider a career in the trades. The guide includes advice for formerly incarcerated people to reenter the workforce and their community successfully, what to look for in a trade school or career, and advice on reentry assistance programs that might be available. There’s also an overview of different trade career paths to consider and additional resources on mentoring. They discuss programs designed to help justice involved individuals get started in careers in welding, HVAC, construction, electrician, plumber, and wind turbine technician. Check it out here: https://primeweld.com/blogs/news/trade-careers-for-formerly-incarcerated-people

The Controversy Behind Labeled IDs for Sex Offenders

The Controversy Behind Labeled IDs for Sex Offenders By Faith P. – Criminal Justice Intern State-issued driver’s licenses, also known as identification cards, are one of the most common government documents. Not only do these cards permit individuals to legally operate motor vehicles, but they are also required to verify an individual’s identity in many circumstances. Most of these identification cards contain the same personal information for everyone; however, sex offenders in some states are required to have one more piece of information. According to Probation Information Network’s research, 9 states require offenders to obtain an ID that has specific markings intended to identify the individual as a sex offender. Five of these states require a small symbol that signifies to law enforcement that the owner of the ID is a sex offender, whereas the other four states require phrases like “Sex offender” to be printed in bold letters on the individual’s license. Recently, thi…

Why Reentry Programs Should Be Open to Sex Offenders

Why Reentry Programs Should Be Open to Sex Offenders By Debron B. – Criminal Justice Intern Reentry resources are pivotal to every returning citizen's reintegration into society, especially sex offenders. Despite that, sex offenders have to deal with additional barriers that obstruct their reentry process. It is believed that by giving offenders an opportunity to impact their communities positively, they will be less likely to recidivate back into the prison system. Contradictory to this belief, sex offenders are often denied the chance to reintegrate into their local community and even get harassed for attempting to find work and employment. It is beneficial for both the sex offenders and the general public that this subset of returning citizens is given the ability to use the same reentry resources as others. Sex offenders are in dire need of more reentry programs that cater to their specific residential and employment needs. Numerous states still have employment …

Why Sex Offender Residence Distance Restrictions Are Problematic

Why Sex Offender Residence Distance Restrictions Are Problematic By Emma V. – Criminal Justice Intern Individuals who have been mandated to register for their state’s sex offender registry must not only encounter hardships of societal re-entry after incarceration, but also navigate laws set forth by the state pertaining to sex offender registration requirements. One of the most restrictive of these requirements dramatically complicates registrants’ integration back into society after incarceration. Residence distance restrictions forbid sex offenders from living within a fixed number of feet or blocks from certain locations. Many states restrict offenders from residing near playgrounds, schools, and churches. Realistically, finding a residential area without at least one of these institutions proves to be near impossible. This hinders a sex offender’s chance at a smooth transition back into society and causes even more strain on an individual who is unable to find hous…

Happy Anniversary, PIN!

Probation Information Network Marks its 3rd Anniversary on May 1 In the past 3 years we've: • Had 23 interns from 6 universities participate in our research projects • Appeared in 1.56 million Google searches • Amassed a database of over 1,100 Reentry Resources • Provided the Supervised Release Conditions and Travel Restrictions for all 94 federal districts • Researched and published Sex Offender Registry Requirements for all 50 states and 5 U.S. territories We are proud to celebrate 3 years of providing resources to help those navigating the federal criminal justice system, and look forward to many more.

Sex Offender Registry Requirements Across the United States

What is the Sex Offender Registry? Every state and U.S. territory requires those convicted of sex offenses to be added to a registry to be monitored and tracked after their release back into the community. Information about the offender is collected and shared with local and federal authorities, as well as the general public. Requirements and restrictions are often placed on registered sex offenders. That registration process is unique in each state and U.S. territory. What is SORNA? The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) was passed in 2006 as part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act to provide federal standards for jurisdictions to follow. SORNA calls for states and U.S. territories to meet minimum requirements for sex offender registration and notification. Why Are the Requirements for Sex Offender Registration Different Everywhere? While SORNA’s guidelines s…

DNA Databases and Law Enforcement

DNA Databases and Law Enforcement By Asia H. - Criminal Justice Intern Genetic Genealogy has become a popular subject in recent times thanks to DNA testing kits. Users can send in saliva samples and receive a detailed report on their ethnic ancestry or genetic predisposition to certain diseases. While hundreds of thousands of people have taken interest in companies such as 23andme, AncestryDNA and African Ancestry to connect with family and their heritage, others have been drawn to them for different reasons. The large databases created by DNA testing companies have been a source of interest for law enforcement officials who desire to utilize them for investigations. In recent years, law enforcement has used DNA databases to solve cold cases and apprehend criminals. A slew of cases have been solved and criminals apprehended thanks to sites such as GEDMatch that allow law enforcement (and other users) to upload genetic information and locate matches of other customers. Th…

Combating Recidivism Through Pre-release Programs

Combating Recidivism Through Pre-release Programs By Erika E. - Criminal Justice Intern According to the United States Department of Justice, more than 650,000 ex-offenders are released from prison each year. Of those 650,000 individuals, the struggles they face within the criminal justice system as well as out of the system play a significant role in their success in society. With barriers to reintegration such as finding and maintaining jobs, education, and social bonds, it is evident that decreasing recidivism is dependent on breaking these barriers. Through implementation of pre-release programs during incarceration, barriers will diminish, and the recidivism rate will begin to decline. Thus, released prisoners are more likely to overcome the barriers of societal reintegration, resulting in a lower recidivism rate, upon completion of pre- release programs. The challenge of finding a job with a criminal record is one of the biggest barriers an inmate must face when re…

The Problem with Juveniles Getting Life Without Parole

The Problem with Juveniles Getting Life Without Parole By Danielle A. - Criminal Justice Intern While juveniles being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole may seem uncommon, it’s not. There are currently people in prison who have been sentenced to life in prison without parole for crimes they committed before the age of 18. The United States is the only country in the world that sentences juveniles to life without parole. Currently, 25 states and the District of Columbia have banned life without parole for people under 18. An additional nine states allow it but don’t currently have any juveniles sentenced to life without parole. While its great juveniles can’t be sentenced to the death penalty, life in prison without the possibly of parole isn’t much better. This is why life sentences for anyone under the age of 18 needs to be banned altogether. We were all young once before so we know what it’s like to make irrational decisions. Some make decisi…

The Burden of Pretrial Detention

The Burden of Pretrial Detention By Asia H. - Criminal Justice Intern The criminal justice system has become overcrowded, overloaded, and inefficient in dealing with criminal cases. Though many tend to think of prisons when it comes to overcrowding, jails are also experiencing unprecedented overfilling. Pretrial defendants, in particular, are a population contributing to jail overcrowding. In 2015, one study of jails in Georgia found that pretrial defendants constituted 56% of the jail population. Another study found that 75% of New York's jail population were pretrial detainees. The 6th amendment guarantees the right to a speedy trial, right to counsel, right to an impartial jury as well as the right to be informed of the charges against you. As it concerns pretrial detention, many detainees are extensively incarcerated due to financial issues and/or the heavy caseload of the justice system. Detainees lose out on a speedy trial when they are extensively incarcerated whi…