For 4.5 million adults in America, community supervision, such as parole or probation, is used as an alternative to incarceration but can instead lead to further time behind bars, according to a report from the Prison Policy Initiative. Community supervision often sets people up to fail with burdensome requirements and fees, and technical violations and minor offenses lead to jail time instead of less damaging alternatives. The MacArthur-supported study breaks down the data by state to help advocates and policymakers prioritize reforms such as programs to reduce barriers to education, employment, and housing.
