State Probation and Parole Board

Val Michaels, aged 53, is now a regional administrator for the state parole Board with responsibility for planning and budgeting. But Val's position is more than a job. In fact, Val's work in this branch of criminal justice carries some aspect of the pioneer within it. According to Val, "In the 1960's I majored in sociology. It was certainly a time of major and sometimes radical change. As an African-American it was an exciting time. A time of hope and promise. Sociology was a natural fit for me. But it also revealed to me many aspects of society which were troubling. Quite frankly, minorities were significantly underrepresented in nearly all aspects of social policy. It was apparent to me that if minorities were to make any real progress then they had to be in positions of leadership where social policy was being defined." One such area was criminal justice. When asked why criminal justice, Val responded, "My grandmother actually served as a referee in juvenile court from the 1920's through the 1940's. And, she served in the juvenile probation office. Growing up, this is what I knew. In many ways, just like my major in sociology, it was natural for me to end up in this field."

After graduation Val took a while before settling into her career path. Initially she worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority, then returned home where she took a position as a juvenile probation officer; the same kind of work as her grandmother. However, she did not stay there long and eventually relocated to another city and sat out a year. Then in 1970 Val went to the state office of probation and parole looking for a position. But she was not hired due to a perceived lack of experience. Though, as would become clearly evident, Val had more than just experience, she had perspective and know-how as well. So, she went immediately to get the formal experience she was told she lacked. For two months she worked as a bond investigator, conducting various kinds of pre-trial investigations. According to Val, "I was just waiting until a probation officer's position became available." Such a position became available in 1971. Two years later Val became a unit manager.

Val's qualifications had become quite obvious and she was on a fast track to bigger challenges. In 1975 she entered a Master's program in corrections at a local university. In 1977 Val became involved with the American Correctional Association (ACA), and by 1978 was president of the state affiliate of the ACA. Other organizations with which Val associated included the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, the Association of Paroling Authorities International, and the American Probation and Parole Association. In addition to all these participations, Val was promoted to District Supervisor in 1978.

There were a number of advantages produced by all this activity, and Val's rapid rise in the state system. According to Val, "I was positioning myself so that I could influence the direction and future of probation and parole. As I said before, it was important for blacks to be in position to influence social policy. I was doing this through my associations. Among other things, I was organizing various conferences and workshops. This was still unusual for a black person. But it was giving me visibility and an opportunity to have a say in things. It also taught me about organizations and organizational skills. Throughout your career such skills can prove invaluable." This latter point was especially significant. According to Val, "In addition to visibility and policy, my work in the various associations benefited me in terms of personal networking. Your relationships to others are critical in terms of your ability to have access to information, power, or authority. Without such relationships you are essentially alone. Your network is not only a means of accessing a particular resource, but is also the means of influencing trends or movements within the profession. People all across the country were only a phone call away."

1984 saw a culmination of Val's career efforts. She was appointed by the governor to the State Parole Board. According to Val, "This was one of my career goals. It was important, for many reasons, to have reached this level. One, it validated my work in the profession. Two, it justified the faith that my peers and mentors in agency work had in me. These people have been so critical to any success I have had. Three, I could now serve as a mentor to others. While I might have already been doing this through work in the agencies, and within the professional associations, my new position gave me enhanced credibility. Four, I now had an additional platform for impacting public policy. And five, it was important that I, as a black person, could now serve as a role model for others."

The State Parole Board is a bipartisan entity appointed by the governor. As a quasi-political body the Board is to be comprised of two Democrats, and three Republicans or three Democrats and two Republicans. Its responsibility included oversight administration for approximately 1000 probation officers, in addition to some specific duties. These include holding parole hearings, deciding on inmate releases, as well as returning some probationers and parolees to prison, and general correctional strategy. While the Board is indeed a quasi-political body, Val " . . . was never politically involved. I was credentialed, but not politically savvy. All my contacts were in the profession, not in the parties." This would eventually create new challenges for Val.

After she had been appointed to the Board Val only then realized the political nature of the job. "This," according to Val, "was part of my naiveté about the position. In fact, the position I was appointed to fill was actually a Republican seat, and I am a Democrat. So, when I was first nominated I actually did not get the seat. However, just after that the state legislature expanded the Board from three to five members and I was appointed. At that time my appointment was for four years. In 1988 I was reappointed for an additional six years." In 1994 Val received the top American Correctional Association award; another highlight in a career which had run the gamut from entry level to top state post. However, the politics about which Val initially knew very little, eventually caught up with her. "In 1994, although I'd won the ACA award, I was not reappointed for another term. I was replaced by a white Republican male. It was, absolutely, a political appointment. And for the first time in 25 years, I felt that my credibility had been overwhelmed by politics. Now, four years later, I can say that I don't actually regret the process being political. But politics is the only reason I am not on the Board right now."

In the past few years the whole field of corrections, including probation and parole, has come under close public and media scrutiny. The political climate has tended to exacerbate the emotions people have about crime and punishment. For example, federal sentencing guidelines have restricted judicial flexibility and imposed longer, determinant sentencing. Programming and "luxuries" such as Pell Grants for college level education and exercise equipment, have been systematically withdrawn from our prisons. In political campaigns law and order are frequently touted, often including "Willie Horton-like" commercials criticizing the probation and parole policies of one or another candidate. The point is that corrections generally, and agencies specifically mandated to deal with criminals, are always subject to public and political winds. In this regard, Val believes that, "While the decisions of the Parole Board are not typically politically pressured, the Board nonetheless is always responding to society, to what is going on in the community. This means that certain trends in society will find their way into Board thinking, and ultimately Board decisions."

Sometimes social trends run head-on into practical reality. For example, the "lock them up and throw away the key" trend eventually encounters the ability of states to pay for enough prison space. When the cost per inmate begins to run at $25,000 - $30,000 per year, then the public begins to reconsider. In a number of states this has been addressed through "contract" prisons; that is, assigning inmates to private prison facilities and management companies. But then again, in those instances where contracting has gone awry, such as poor treatment of inmates, the public has typically called for investigations, or even termination of contracts. The volitility of the issues, according to Val, " . . . is a function of the fact that society is so motivated by fear. This makes for a very up and down pattern." However, the issues of crime and punishment will always be with us. And, as one trend reaches its limits, whether they are the limits of budget or the limits of conscience, then we typically see some kind of reversal. They key is to be well positioned in order to make a difference. This is what Val has done, and continues to do. But what can students, who are interested and concerned about such issues, do now? What are the career implications of Val's career?

According to Val, "While I said that probation and parole was part of my upbringing, I must say that my degree was not really career motivated. My idea of a career developed after I was on the job. I really credit certain people, who come along at various times in every career, as mentors. Actually I count three such mentors in my career. Their input was critical. Mentors do at least three things for you. One, they teach and advise you about the work at hand. They are people who can walk you through the tasks, problems, and issues of work. Perhaps more importantly, they introduce you around to others in the field or profession. This is the second impact of mentors. By doing so, mentors help you construct essential networks. Finally, mentors can be a career sounding-board. They can take your ideas and advise you as to what you should be considering regarding your career." But how do you get a mentor? In some instances it just seems to happen. But understanding their importance you can begin now, seeking them out. One excellent source is via internships while in college. Do not be timid. Ask questions and make it a point to be with others. Showing an interest in them will help produce an interest in you.

As far as degrees, Val says that if you are actually pursing a career in probation and parole, sociology and/or psychology are typically required. Bachelor's degrees are also required. In some settings bilingual and cross cultural skills are necessary. While not required in many places it is certainly on the horizon. Computer literacy is a must. Writing skills are critical. Officers are always writing reports. And as a member of the State Parole Board, Board members have to be able to articulate and defend decisions. This is obviously an issue of communications; those directed within, to correctional, probation, and parole officers, and those directed to the public and the politicians. How you present yourself and your ideas or positions is important to your success in doing so.

In conclusion, Val wants students to know that, "Being and officer in probation and parole can be a wonderful job for life, or an excellent job as a stepping stone to other career possibilities.

However, it is not generally the kind of career which is especially financially rewarding. Salaries range from $25,000- plus, based on experience, for first-time officers, to $60,000 annually for Parole Board members. What this means is that you must have motives other than money for this kind of work. The motive must be a belief in the value and potential of people to reclaim their lives, and become once again contributing members of society.