Parole Violations and Revocations: Evidence-Based Responses to California in Crisis - Expert Chat Webinar, NIJ and Harvard's Government Innovators Network

• NCJ Number: 234703
• Author(s): Joan Petersilia; Ryken Grattet; Thomas G. Hoffman; Peggy Burke
• Date Published: July 2009
• Length: 3 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Presentation (Multimedia); Legislation/Policy Analysis; Issue Overview

Annotation

This is a video of a webinar sponsored by the Government Innovators Network, during which an online panel discusses the results of a recently completed 3-year study, funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), that examined the ways in which decisionmakers respond to parole violations in California.

Abstract

This study is the largest and most comprehensive study of parole violations ever conducted, suggesting that the lessons learned are important for policymakers and practitioners in other States. The study intends that the knowledge gained be used to improve public safety through more consistency in decisions regarding parole violations and revocations, as well as improvement in the cost effectiveness of parole. Study data presented address parolee recidivism, sex offender violation and revocation pattern, "second strikers" violation and revocation pattern, inflow into California prisons and parolees' percentage of this inflow, and examples of reasons for parole revocation. Some policy implications from the study are to concentrate parole supervision and services on the first 6 months of parole; expand the use of early and earned parole discharge; align parolee risk and supervision levels; use a parole violation matrix; expand the use of intermediate sanctions; encourage criminal prosecution for felony parole violations; and expand substance abuse and mental health programs. California's parole violation decisionmaking instrument and the California static risk assessment are included in the material presented in the webinar.