1. Chapter 8 Parole: Early Release and Reentry

2. Learning Objectives
Present a brief history of American parole development
Understand the function of parole in the criminal justice system
Define parole and explain the parole decision-making process

3. Learning Objectives (continued)
Describe the characteristics of the parole population
Explain what works in parole supervision
Summarize current issues in parole

4. Parole Conditional release of a prisoner:
Prior to completion of the imposed sentence
Under the supervision of a parole officer
Discretionary release: Early release based on the paroling authority’s assessment of eligibility
Mandatory release: Early release after a time period specified by law

5. Exhibit 8.2 - American Probation and Parole Association

6. Reentry
Use of programs for effective reintegration of offenders back to communities upon release from prison and jail
Reasons for ineffectiveness
Insufficient parole supervision
Parole has shifted from a service orientation to a surveillance-oriented, control-based strategy
Budget constraints affect responses to technical violations

7. Women Offenders
Most of them are black, Hispanic, or of other nonwhite ethnic groups
Have:
High rate of prior sexual or physical abuse
High rates of positive-HIV status and other sexually transmitted diseases
High alcohol, drug use, and addiction rates

8. Exhibit 8.3 - Service Needs of State and Federal Prisoners

9. Reentry Programs to Help Ex-Offenders and Eligibility for Reentry
Reentry programs should focus on:
Mental health
Substance abuse
Housing and homelessness
Education and employment
Children, families, and the specific needs of women
Parole eligibility date: Earliest date on which an inmate might be paroled

10. Granting Parole: The Paroling Authority
Paroling authority: Person or correctional agency with the authority to:
Grant parole
Revoke parole
Discharge from parole
Factors for parole board decision making
Criminal history
Institutional behavior

11. Granting Parole: The Hearing
Attended by:
Victims and applicant
Institutional representative
Hearing examiners or parole board members
Parolee: Person who is conditionally released from prison to community supervision

12. Conditions of Parole Report upon release
Maintain employment/training/treatment
Report monthly
Obey laws/orders
Obtain travel permit before traveling
No firearms/weapons

13. Conditions of Parole (continued)
No drugs
Report police contact
Do not work as an informant
No contact with prisoners or felons
Cannot leave area
Obey all orders/special conditions

14. Exhibit 8.8 - Comparing Discretionary Release and Mandatory Release

15. Nonrevocable Parole (NRP)
Unsupervised parole that cannot be revoked for technical violations
Person does not report to a parole officer
Introduced by the California legislature
Eligibility - Offenders convicted of nonviolent, nonsexual, low-level crimes and those who are not a threat to society

16. Exhibit 8.11 - Selected Characteristics of Adults on Parole

17. Parolee Voting Rights Arguments for felon disenfranchisement
Should be denied as a matter of principle
States have the right to deny as added punishment
Sends a message about respect for the law
Felons cannot be trusted to make politically informed decisions
Arguments against felon disenfranchisement
Voting is a right guaranteed by the Constitution
Unfair to minorities
Not an effective form of punishment
Inconsistent with reentry
Would result in groups being considered ineligible one by one

18. Reentry Court
Manages the return to the community of individuals released from prison
Core elements proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice
Assessment and planning
Active judicial oversight
Case management of support services
Accountability to the community
Graduated sanctions
Rewarding success

19. Reintegration Involving Victims
Victims can assist parole boards by:
Providing relevant information
Offering their experience and expertise
Encouraging offender accountability
Rights given to victims by most states
Be notified about parole proceedings
Be heard on matters about offender’s parole
Be present at parole proceedings
Receive restitution as a condition of parole

20. Exhibit 8.14 - States That Have Abolished Discretionary Release, 2000

21. Reasons for Abolition of Discretionary Parole Board Release
Inability to achieve offender rehabilitation
Elimination appeared to be tough on crime
Parole boards’ lack of openness in the decision-making process
State politicians convinced the public of its necessity to curb rising crime problem

22. Prisoner Reentry Must address the following issues
Community corrections officers are not able to handle the number of persons being released
Offenders are leaving prison unprepared for successful reentry
Community policing - Response of communities to the problems of prisoner reentry

23. Prisoner Reentry (continued)
Can prevent future crimes and help improve community relations with police
Helps ex-offenders find the supports and services they need
Analyzes and understands the reasons behind repeat offending
Creates partnerships to solve underlying crime problems and prevent future offending

24. Community-Focused Parole
Process of engaging the community so the community engages parole
Changes required
A mission statement that the public understands
Increase the visibility of parole work
Build partnerships