Galleguillos, S., Koetzle, D., & Mellow, J. (2024). Legal reforms, non-custodial sanctions, and parole in Chile. In The Routledge Handbook on Global Community Corrections. Edited by Ioan Durnescu, James M. Byrne, Benjamin J. Mackey, & Faye Taxman, Routledge. DOI: 10.4324/9781003305149
During the past two decades, Chile has enacted several laws and guidelines aimed at reforming and modernizing its criminal justice system, including expanding the use of non-custodial sanctions and reforming the use of parole. Today, most individuals under criminal justice supervision in Chile are serving non-custodial sentences surpassing the number of individuals serving prison sanctions, and only a small fraction are released from prison under parole. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the reforms and the use of alternatives to incarceration in Chile, exploring the main trends and particularities of each non-custodial sanction and parole. To achieve this goal, we describe the main features of Gendarmería, the agency in charge of all adults’ sanctions in Chile. In addition, we describe the outcomes of each non-custodial sentence and parole, focusing on the recidivism rates found in Gendarmería's reports and academic research. We conclude by suggesting future research areas to better understand and evaluate the use of non-custodial sanctions and parole in Chile.
Galleguillos, S., Schwalbe, C., & Koetzle, D. (2023). Building accountability and client-officer relationship through videoconferencing: Exploring best practices for community corrections. European Journal of Probation. 15(2), 97-119. Link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20662203231165372
Using interviews and focus groups with community correction officers, this study focuses on best practice strategies for incorporating videoconferencing into routine supervision. We suggest that establishing in-person relationships, adapting EBP, and taking care of logistics are critical steps to strengthen remote accountability and client–officer relationships.
Galleguillos, S., Sánchez Cea, M., Koetzle, D., Mellow, J., Schwalbe, C. (2022). The COVID-19 Pandemic and Probation in Chile: Remote Supervision and Regional Differences. International Criminology, (2)1, 70-83. Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43576-022-00044-3
This study explores the impact of COVID-19 on clients, officers, and the use of remote supervision across different regions of Chile. The results of our survey show an important shift from in-person interactions to remote communication. We discuss the relevance of the geographical and socioeconomic context before implementing remote supervision as community supervision core practice.
Mellow, J. (2023). Reflections on the Power of Workplace and Technological Synergy in Community Corrections, Keynote Address, 1st Asian and Pacific Probation Conference, Seoul, Korea.
This keynote address to the 1st Asian and Pacific Probation Conference discusses how “synergy” and “technological synergy” can improve the successful outcomes of those under community correctional supervision.
Nunphong, T., Mellow, K., Koetzle, D, & Schwalbe, C. (2023). Exploring Thailand’s Probationary Practices Since COVID-19: Changes in strategies with regards to probation supervision. Victims & Offenders, 18, 842-861. DOI: 10.1080/15564886.2022.2131667
This study explores the policies and practices of Thailand’s Department of Probation as it responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicate that probation officers were able to maintain the supervision levels under the coronavirus-related restrictions although the contact methods were radically changed to remote communication tools.
Schwalbe, C.S.J. & Koetzle, D. (2021). What the COVID-19 pandemic teaches about the essential functions of community corrections and supervision. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 48(9), 1300-1316. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854821101907
The COVID-19 pandemic occurred in the midst of a reform movement in probation and parole supervision in the United States. Because social distancing orders created significant disruptions in probation and parole, the pandemic provides an opportunity to explore the innovative ways that probation and parole officers adjusted their supervision strategies with clients. We surveyed probation and parole officers in the United States (N = 1,054; 65% female, 66% probation) in May–June 2020 about the supervision strategies they used with people on their caseloads before and immediately after the pandemic’s onset. Data indicate that overall rates of contact did not change, but that in-person contacts were replaced with remote communication strategies. Client access to electronic communication platforms, especially video conferencing, facilitated more frequent contact and more reliance on behavioral tactics and treatment-oriented case management approaches in the post-COVID period. Results reveal the potential role for video conferencing as an integral element of probation and parole reform. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
Condition comprehension predicts compliance for adolescents under probation supervisioSchwalbe, C. S. J., & Koetzle, D. (2020). n. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 26(3), 286-296. https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000235
Noncompliance is a chronic problem among youth court ordered to probation supervision, often placing them in jeopardy of deeper involvement with the juvenile justice system. Legal comprehension theory and goal setting theory suggests that youth understanding of their probation requirements may predict compliance. This study explored the effect of condition comprehension on short-term compliance with probation requirements in a sample of probation youths (n = 101). Results of the multilevel logistic regression analysis demonstrated that youth with a detailed understanding of their conditions were more likely to comply with probation requirements, but that this effect was moderated by age and by emotion regulation. Understanding was not related to compliance for youth younger than 14 and for youth who scored low on a measure of emotion regulation. Results of this study provide support for efforts by probation departments to foster youth comprehension of their conditions, and reveal the need to establish probation strategies suited to younger youth and youth with poor emotion regulation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)
Schwalbe, C.T., Lea, C., Edwards, K., & Koetzle, D. (2024) Associations of racial equity training, policies, and practices with routine supervision strategies in community corrections. Criminal Justice and Behavior. OnlineFirst. https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548241276517
Community corrections agencies across the United States are adopting racial equity as a priority in their polices, practices, and staff training, though how racial equity can be translated into the routine practices of probation and parole officers has not been widely discussed. This study examines the associations of perceived racial equity priorities on the supervision strategies reported by probation and parole officers in an online survey ( N = 1054). Approximately one-third of officers reported that their agencies prioritized racial equity. Racial equity scores were stronger in juvenile agencies and in agencies that prioritized evidence-informed practices. Racial equity was associated with reduced accountability-oriented case management practices. Results of this study suggest that racial equity policies and practices may impact client outcomes through changes in general supervision strategies. More research is needed to identify race-conscious strategies that community corrections officers can employ to meet the needs of people involved in the legal system.