Doctoral Dissertation Research: Regulated, Supervised and Assisted Subjects: Examining How Individuals Navigate Parole

假释是一种涉及对重罪罪犯实行国家拘留的惩罚，是指从监狱释放后在社区接受监督的时期。在加州，这个研究项目的所在地，几乎每个从州立监狱出来的人都受到假释监督。正如加州州所规定的那样，假释是为了实现两个目标，即确保公共安全和帮助前囚犯从监狱过渡到社区（称为囚犯重返社会）。因此，假释处于两个普遍和相互矛盾的趋势的交叉点：风险管理和康复。从理论上讲，假释的多个目标和要素旨在协同工作。虽然监管和康复的双重目标似乎是合理的政策目标，但仔细检查，它们呈现出多种矛盾和悖论，降低了个人成功完成和释放假释的可能性。本研究探讨个人如何体验和应对假释，包括假释内的监管，监督和康复制度，以及这些产生的矛盾。它还调查的方式，其中（重新）出现的康复和囚犯重返社会的核心目标是重新塑造假释。具体而言，本研究探讨以下研究问题：（1）假释个体如何认知和制定假释规则？(2)个人如何理解和浏览假释的监督要求（例如，与代理人，药物测试和宵禁）？ 最后，（3）个人如何看待和利用假释的重返社会服务和努力，以帮助他们？研究是与假释犯和假释人员（例如，假释代理人和监督员）在整个加州州。 通过以下方式收集数据：（1）焦点小组，（2）档案/文件分析（例如，检查立法文件、假释培训材料和与假释有关的法庭案件），（3）半结构化访谈，和（4）参与者观察（即，本研究的结果将有助于更好地理解和理论化假释中的个人如何应对假释机构的努力，以规范，监督和治理他们的行为。最近假释犯人数增加的同时，假释服务的资金和资源却减少了。与此同时，成功完成假释的个人比例有所下降，假释在入狱人数中所占比例更大。鉴于这种情况下，如何从假释的角度假释功能的理解可以提供宝贵的见解被纳入惩教，以及假释，旨在改善公共安全和减少假释累犯的政策。这项研究有可能提供具体的见解如何假释有助于公共安全，如果增加监管和监督假释资源的有效利用。

Parole, a type of punishment involving State custody over felony offenders, refers to the period of supervision in the community following release from prison. In California, the site of this research project, virtually everyone coming out of State prison is subject to parole supervision. As framed by the State of California, parole is oriented toward the twin goals of ensuring public safety and aiding former prisoners in the process of transitioning from prison to the community (referred to as prisoner reentry). Thus, parole lies at the intersection of two general and contradictory trends: risk management and rehabilitation. In theory, the multiple goals and elements of parole are designed to work in concert. While the twin goals of regulation and rehabilitation appear as plausible policy objectives, under closer examination they present multiple contradictions and paradoxes that decrease the likelihood that individuals will successfully complete and discharge parole. This research examines how individuals experience and respond to parole, including the regimes of regulation, supervision and rehabilitation within parole and the contradictions these produce. It also investigates the ways in which the (re)emergence of rehabilitation and prisoner reentry as central goals are re-shaping parole. Specifically, this research examines the following research questions: (1) How do individuals on parole perceive and enact the rules/regulations of parole? (2) How do individuals make sense of and navigate the surveillance requirements (e.g, meetings with agents, drug testing, and curfews) of parole? And finally, (3) how do individuals perceive and utilize parole's reentry services and efforts to assist them?Research is conducted with both parolees and parole personnel (e.g., parole agents and supervisors) throughout the State of California. Data are collected through a combination of: (1) focus groups, (2) archival/document analysis (e.g., examining legislative documents, parole training materials, and court cases related to parole), (3) semi-structured interviews, and (4) participant observation (i.e., direct interaction and observation with individuals over a sustained period).The results of this research will contribute to a better understanding and theorizing of how individuals on parole respond to the parole agency's efforts to regulate, supervise and govern their conduct. The recent increase in the population of parolees has coincided with a decrease in funding and resources for parole services. At the same time, the rate of individuals who successfully complete parole has declined and parole revocations account for a greater proportion of prison admissions. Given this situation, an understanding of how parole functions from the perspective of parolees can provide invaluable insights to be incorporated into correctional, as well as parole, policy that seeks to improve public safety and reduce parolee recidivism. This research has the potential of providing concrete insights into how parole contributes to public safety, and if increased regulation and surveillance are effective uses of parole resources.