Probation offers a path to change, accountability, and cost-efficiency
By Marcia M. Meis, Director, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
This past week of July 20th was National Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week (PPPS Week). It is designed to highlight how probation and other community corrections programs serve as a crucial element within the judicial system. I focus here on probation – which is a Judicial Branch responsibility in Illinois.
The Probation Officers Act (730 ILCS 110/15) establishes the Probation Services Division (PSD), which is housed within the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC). The PSD is charged with enhancing evidence-based probation practices in Illinois through developing and enforcing statewide probation standards, training, and technical assistance - all with the goal of providing consistency in services throughout our state.
Probation provides a cost-effective alternative to incarceration that changes lives, helps reduce recidivism, and fosters healthier communities. In Illinois, we have approximately 3,000 probation officers who serve their local county courts under the supervision of their respective chief judges. The PSD provides expertise, knowledge, and experience to support, direct, and resource our state’s 72 local probation departments, 3,000 probation officers, and 25 chief circuit judges.
Approximately 100,000 people in our state are supervised through various probation programs. Some of the most common probation programs are adult probation, juvenile probation, problem-solving courts, court supervision, conditional discharge, electronic monitoring, home detention, and diversion programs. The goal of probation programs and services is to provide a set of evidence-proven skills and techniques that provide an opportunity for the individual to make critical changes. The facilitation of the skills and techniques requires highly trained and skilled probation officers.
Probation offers individuals the opportunity to remain in their communities, continue their employment, and maintain family connections. This stability is crucial for people to make positive, life-altering changes and reduce the risk of further involvement in the justice system. Probation officers play a pivotal role in this process, providing guidance, support, accountability, and resources to help their clients.
Additionally, probation programs and services include resources including but not limited to cognitive-behavioral training, mental health counseling, substance use treatment, educational or vocational training, and many others. These programs assist in addressing the underlying issues that may contribute to criminal behavior, fostering personal growth and development. As a result, probation not only changes the lives of individuals but also contributes to the overall health of the community.
In addition to life changes and building healthier communities, a major focus of probation is on recidivism, ie. the tendency of previously convicted individuals to commit new offenses. Studies have shown that probation can be more effective in reducing recidivism rates compared to incarceration. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, individuals who are incarcerated have a recidivism rate of 150% higher than the rate of those on probation. This disparity underscores the rehabilitative potential of probation, providing a structured yet supportive environment for individuals supervised by probation officers in the community.
And if one needed an additional reason to recognize and support our system of probation, the economic benefits over incarceration are substantial. Various studies have shown that incarceration costs the state an average of $30,000 per person annually. In contrast, probation supervision costs significantly less, averaging around $2,000-$4,000 per person annually. This stark difference highlights the cost-effectiveness of probation, allowing states to allocate their resources efficiently while building healthier communities.
Please join me in recognizing the critical role probation has in our state’s justice system and in commending the probation officers for their role in providing opportunities for life change, building healthier communities, and accountability. I also recognize and thank the many necessary justice system stakeholders, particularly the AOIC Probation Services Division Director Dan Hunt and his amazing staff who are vital in partnering to make probation and the courts successful.