A former parole officer shines a bright light on a huge yet hidden part of our justice system through the intertwining stories of seven parolees striving to survive the chaos that awaits them after prison in this illuminating and dramatic book. Prompted by a dead-end retail job and a vague desire to increase the amount of justice in his hometown, Jason Hardy became a parole officer in New Orleans at the worst possible moment. Louisiana’s incarceration rates were the highest in the US and his department’s caseload had just been increased to 220 “offenders” per parole officer, whereas the national average is around 100. Almost immediately, he discovered that the biggest problem with our prison system is what we do—and don’t do—when people get out of prison. Deprived of social support and jobs, these former convicts are often worse off than when they first entered prison and Hardy dramatizes their dilemmas with empathy and grace. He’s given unique access to their lives and a growing recognition of their struggles and takes on his job with the hope that he can change people’s fates—but he quickly learns otherwise. The best Hardy and his colleagues can do is watch out for impending disaster and help clean up the mess left behind. But he finds that some of his charges can muster the miraculous power to save themselves. By following these heroes, he both stokes our hope and fuels our outrage by showing us how most offenders, even those with the best intentions, end up back in prison—or dead—because the system systematically fails them. Our focus should be, he argues, to give offenders the tools they need to re-enter society which is not only humane but also vastly cheaper for taxpayers. As immersive and dramatic as Evicted and as revelatory as The New Jim Crow, The Second Chance Club shows us how to solve the cruelest problems prisons create for offenders and society at large.

Probation Officer/Parole Officer Exam will help you find out as much as you can about the hiring process and practice the skills you need to succeed at each stage. This guide is filled with useful information, advice, and practice exercises that will help you understand how the hiring process works and how you can best meet the probation or parole officer requirements. Thoroughly prepare for your written exam with seven full-length practice tests, so you can avoid common pitfalls and test anxiety. This Comprehensive Probation Officer/Parole Officer Prep Offers You: - Seven 100-question practice exams, based on information from official probation and parole officer exams - Instructional chapters and targeted practice on the most commonly tested topics: job responsibilities, case studies, reading skills, and writing ability -Tips for conquering test anxiety and boosting confidence -Complete information covering the application process and what to expect

This book, which incorporates Rosecrance's 20 years of experience as a probation and parole officer, gives students a feel for what it is really like to work as a probation or parole officer and allows them to recognize this work as an assignment at which they can succeed. The book includes real -life examples, quotes from practitioners and clients, and authentic descriptions of contemporary practices give insights to the practical side of probation, parole, and community corrections and help students make informed decisions about whether they wish to pursue a career in this field. "

Analyzes the duties of probation and parole officers and offers six full-length exams with explanations of the answers.