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Parole OfficerAs a parole officer for the state of Texas, Chu Luu devoteshis life to trying to keep 89 people out of trouble. It isn’t aneasy job. His clients are parolees—convicted murderers,robbers, and drug dealers who have been allowed out of jailafter many years.“Sometimes people have been given sentences of 50 years,” Luu says. “Butthere just isn’t room for all the prisoners, so the state might let them out after 25 or30 years. It’s my job to help them reintegrate into society.”Luu tries to increase an ex-convict’s chances of success by helping him or herfind a job, and if necessary, by arranging for treatment for alcoholism and drugaddiction. Ex-convicts are parolees for the rest of their term of sentence, whichmeans they must continue to work and check in with their parole officer. If theyfail to do so, they will be returned to prison.Luu checks up on his clients by visiting their homes or their places of employment.“Of course, sometimes people disappear,” he says. “But other times, peopleget out of prison, get a job, and follow the routine. They’ve learned a big lesson.”Luu says his job can be high pressure. “We’re dealing with criminals,” hesays, “and when you’re supervising criminals, it’s not like dealing with otherpeople. You can only trust them 50 percent of the time and when you tell them todo something, they’re probably going to do it differently than you or I.”SkillsPersonalityEducationListening, creative problem solving, counselingPatient, able to take a high-pressure job, sensitive to diversityCollege degree plus five weeks at parole academyFor more information on parole officers, visit ubpl.glencoe.com or yourpublic library.Example 3. Kita borrowed $5,500 from her local bank, agreeingto pay the money back in 24 monthly installments at the currentinterest rate. She used the money to buy a van from a usedcar dealer; however, the vehicle broke down two days later. Thevan was not merchantable, and Kita could use breach of warrantyof merchantability as grounds to get her money back from thedealer. However, because there was no financing arrangementbetween the bank and the dealer, Kita still has to pay the bankthe full $5,500 plus interest, as agreed.340 Unit 3: Understanding Consumer Law