Compounded Social Vulnerability: Parole Supervision and Disasters

ABSTRACT

We use an exploratory case study method and documentary analysis to review parole policies in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. We find that parole policies in each state fail to address how parolees should respond during disasters and the implications for compliance failure. Conditions of parole, and parole policies and procedures (or lack thereof) can make it extremely difficult for individuals on parole to successfully and simultaneously navigate disasters. Without proper guidance from the agencies responsible for parole in each state, individuals may be caught further in the web of correctional control. Our findings lead us to make several recommendations for justice agencies, as well as state and local governments.

KEYWORDS:

• Disasters
• social vulnerability
• community corrections
• parole
• social control
• criminal justice
• emergency planning

Disclosure statement

We have no known conflict of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.