The statement that more people are on probation or parole than in prison, and violations can send people back to jail or prison, describes which concept?

• A. Probation
• B. Probation/parole and incarceration
• C. Penal-welfarism
• D. Exclusionary regime

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is that the punishment system relies on both supervising people in the community and incarcerating them, with violations of supervision able to send someone back to jail or prison. The fact that more people are under probation or parole than in prison shows that community supervision is a large part of the system, not just confinement. When someone on probation or parole violates the terms—whether it’s a technical breach or a new offense—it can trigger revocation and result in reincarceration, keeping people connected to the criminal-justice system even while they’re outside prison walls.

Probation in isolation wouldn’t capture the aspect of parole and the possibility of returning to confinement. Penal-welfarism and an exclusionary regime don’t describe this specific relationship between community supervision and incarceration.