POP Center Responses Monitoring Offenders on Conditional Release Page 5 

Policing Special Offender Groups

Many probationers and parolees belong to a special category of offenders that require unique supervision conditions. While there are a great number of special offender groups, we have chosen five classifications that the police are most likely to encounter. And although each category has dozens of research studies about what works in preventing crime, space limitations here prevent a full review. In addition to encouraging pro-social behavior among offenders and monitoring probationers and parolees for compliance with the conditions of their supervision, there are special tasks for which the police are well suited.33, 34 Many of the jobs detailed could be molded to fit other classes of special offenders, and we encourage readers to reference the endnotes for more detailed information about a particular intervention. We have selected a few example tasks to illustrate how the police are situated to assist community corrections in monitoring offenders.

Sex Offenders

Two stipulations common to sex offender supervision have excellent opportunities for police aid. First, many individuals are required to enroll in a sex offender registry, several of which require some form of electronic monitoring; this gives officers the ability to track the movements of these offenders. Second, most sex offenders are restricted in their whereabouts; police should be knowledgeable of and enforce these space restrictions (e.g., an offender cannot be within 500 yards of a playground). The police are also well positioned to provide offender identification and victim notification services.35 In addition to past victims, officers can provide expert training about victim avoidance measures.

Prostitutes & Johns and Drug Dealers & Drug Buyers

Many sex and drug solicitation and sales offenses stem from general social disorder. According to broken windows policing, minor community incivilities can open the floodgates to more serious offending; by improving neighborhood conditions, it sends the message to offenders that that place is not conducive to crime.36 The police are a crucial part of multi-agency and community-wide interventions aimed at disrupting early signs of these offenders.37 Aside from place management, officers are ideally situated to assist corrections agents in conducting meetings and property/person searches.

Drunk Drivers

Many offenders convicted of driving while intoxicated receive special conditions as part of their provisional release. Police can assist in enforcing supervision stipulations.38 For example, many offenders are prohibited from consuming alcohol, or being in attendance of any place or event where alcohol is knowingly served; they may also have a court-ordered curfew or general restrictions on driving. Officers can accompany corrections agents during curfew checks, and should encourage compliance with (and reprimand violations of) supervision conditions.

Gang Members

Being in a gang is not a crime, but the social activities involved with such associations can often lead to crime. Most offenders on community supervision are restricted from socializing with gang members, possessing a weapon, or being around drugs or alcohol. Police departments are most effective at targeted enforcement as part of a larger focused deterrence initiative (see “Focused Deterrence” on page 23).39 As part of these interventions, probation and parole officers often perform home visits, where police can assist corrections in conducting home searches, making service referrals, and reinforcing the deterrence (“pulling levers”) message.40

Chronic Nuisance Offenders

One of the most effective approaches to combating chronic nuisance offending is community-oriented policing.41 Additionally, using a problem orientation allows the police to enforce public disorder ordinances that are contributing to reoffending. In relation to community supervised offenders in particular, police officers can meet with offenders prior to their release to help outline the conditions of their freedom, clarify expectations, and provide the threat of enforcement for violations of their case plan.

Chronic Violent Offenders

Focusing policing efforts on high-rate serious offenders has the potential to prevent more crimes with less effort; however, doing so requires a multi-agency intervention, and a wealth of community resources for offenders seeking to desist.42 In aiding probation and parole agencies, police officers can provide expert surveillance and perform supervision condition compliance checks during home visits.43 Police departments can additionally provide victim notification and education resources. Again, when the offenders are known, a targeted enforcement approach (see “Focused Deterrence” on page 23) works best.