Proactive Prevention Doesn’t Stop at Supervision

Evidence-based and problem-oriented approaches to crime prevention are often framed as police-centric — but the reality is that these mindsets apply across the entire public-safety and criminal-justice system.

From patrol officers and correctional staff, to probation and parole, supervisors, analysts, prosecutors, service providers, and policy makers, proactive prevention only works when each role understands how problems develop, why they repeat, and how their actions influence risk for everyone else.

Probation and parole officers occupy a unique and often overlooked position in prevention.

They work directly with individuals who have already entered the justice system — people who may be transitioning back into the community, awaiting further court action, or navigating the conditions of supervision. As a result, they often see risk factors, stressors, and behavioral changes long before those issues surface as new crimes or enforcement actions.

That’s exactly where evidence-based and problem-oriented thinking matters.

Risk on supervision is rarely random. Violations, reoffending, and escalation tend to follow patterns — connected to routines, environments, associations, stress, instability, and unmet needs. When those patterns go unrecognized, agencies are left reacting to violations after harm has already occurred.

In supervision settings, complacency can take a different form.

High caseloads, repeated contacts, and familiar clients can make subtle warning signs easy to overlook. Changes that seem minor in isolation may actually signal increasing risk when viewed over time.

Problem-oriented thinking in probation and parole isn’t about changing policy or turning supervision into policing. It’s about understanding why certain individuals struggle, where supervision breaks down, and how conditions and supports interact.

Indicators worth attention might include:

• Changes in compliance, engagement, or communication

• Missed appointments or increasing excuses

• Sudden housing, employment, or relationship instability

• Shifts in peer associations or social circles

• Increased stress, frustration, or resentment toward supervision

• Escalating technical violations that follow a predictable pattern

• Behavioral changes after court actions, sanctions, or major life events

Individually, these may not mean much. Viewed collectively and over time, they often indicate elevated risk.

One of the greatest prevention tools available to probation and parole officers is consistent engagement and rapport.

Because supervision involves ongoing contact, officers are uniquely positioned to notice changes early, ask questions, and intervene before issues escalate into new criminal behavior. From a problem-oriented perspective, rapport isn’t about leniency — it’s about information, influence, accountability, and prevention.

Proactive prevention in probation and parole is rarely a solo effort.

It depends heavily on information sharing and collaboration.

Probation and parole officers often hold critical insight that can support:

• Law enforcement awareness of emerging risks or patterns

• Prosecutors’ understanding of supervision challenges

• Service providers’ ability to address underlying needs

• Analysts’ ability to identify repeat drivers of recidivism

• Policy makers’ efforts to align conditions with realistic outcomes

When supervision insights remain siloed, opportunities for early intervention are missed.

From an evidence-based and problem-oriented perspective, proactive prevention in probation and parole often looks like:

• Paying attention to patterns, not just violations

• Connecting behavior to conditions, environment, and stressors

• Sharing relevant observations with partners before crises occur

• Addressing repeat issues early rather than escalating sanctions alone

• Evaluating which approaches actually reduce reoffending over time

EBP and POP in probation and parole aren’t about stricter supervision.

They’re about smarter supervision.

Because prevention doesn’t end at release or conviction.

And proactive prevention doesn’t stop at supervision.

To explore more PPS Reflections and practical insights on evidence-based and problem-oriented prevention across policing, corrections, and the broader public-safety system, visit www.proactivepreventionstrategiesllc.com.