Probation and Parole Supervision of Child Sexual Offenders

Sex offenders are the only crime group in which there are more persons incarcerated than on probation. Yet, the population of sex offenders on probation is projected to continue to rise for the next several years. Although tougher laws on sex offenders have resulted in longer prison sentences, the projected increase in the prison population may start to surpass the available prison space soon. This will place even greater pressure on the probationary system to become more and more refined about predicting risk factors to the community when sentencing convicted offenders.

The Georgia Parole Board has become increasingly conservative in its release policies. The top 27 most violent crimes require those convicted to serve 90% or more of their total sentence in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Thus, the percentage of persons on parole continues to decline as the average length of time served in prison continues to grow. Sex offenders are part of that population which is being given longer mandatory incarceration. This is one of the reasons that the percentage of sex offenders in the total inmate population has increased slightly over several years to about 12 % of the total.

In general, probation involves sentencing in the community instead of incarceration. Parole involves sentencing in the community after incarceration is completed.

These are sanctions imposed on offenders that allow them to remain in the community while participating in one or more programs aimed at controlling criminal behavior and reintegrating them into the community. Probation and Parole officers are responsible for helping offenders conform to behavioral expectations and monitoring their progress toward that goal.