DEFINITE SENTENCE PAROLE - AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF LOCAL JAIL PAROLE IN NEW YORK STATE

• NCJ Number: 44606
• Author(s): M J LERNER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 492 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: State of New York Dept of Correctional Services; New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services; City University of New York
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PAROLE SYSTEM THAT UTILIZES DEFINITE SENTENCING WITH MISDEMEANANT OFFENDERS RATHER THAN INDETERMINATE SENTENCE AND DISCRETIONARY RELEASE TO PAROLE SUPERVISION.

Abstract

THE STUDY CONCENTRATES ON TWO ASPECTS OF THE DEFINITE SENTENCE PAROLE SYSTEM. FIRST, THE EFFECTS OF PAROLE SUPEVISION ON THE REDUCTION OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR AMONG DEFINITE SENTENCE PAROLEES ARE EXAMINED. EVIDENCE IS PRESENTED THAT PAROLE SUPERVISION DOES REDUCE THE SUBSEQUENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF DEFINITE SENTENCE PAROLEES, AS COMPARED TO A CONTROL GROUP OF DEFINITE-SENTENCE INMATES NOT AFFORDED PAROLE SUPERVISION SERVICES. A HYPOTHESIS IS PRESENTED THAT THIS REDUCTION IN ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR IS DUE TO THE DETERRENT AND INCAPACITATIVE EFFECTS OF PAROLE SUPERVISION. THE SECOND PHASE OF THE STUDY CONCENTRATES ON THE MOTIVATION FOR APPLICATION FOR PAROLE ON THE PART OF DEFINITE SENTENCE INMATES. INTERVIEWS WERE HELD WITH 125 INMATES IN THREE SEPARATE NEW YORK STATE JURISDICTIONS. PAROLE APPLICATION MOTIVATION IS FOUND TO BE RELATED TO THE LIKELIHOOD THAT ONE'S APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED. EVIDENCE IS PRESENTED THAT INMATES IN A LARGE METROPOLITAN INSTITUTION ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN PAROLE ACCEPTANCE RATES, AS COMPARED WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN SUBURBAN AND RURAL LOCAL JAILS. INTERVIEWS WERE HELD WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF PAROLE IN THIS SYSTEM, CONCENTRATING ON AN ANALYSIS OF THEIR USE OF DISCRETIONARY POWERS. THE STUDY OFFERS EVIDENCE THAT PAROLE SUPERVISION SERVICES CAN BE EFFECTIVE OUTSIDE OF THE INDETERMINATE SENTENCE MODEL. HOWEVER, APPARENT ABUSE OF DISCRETIONARY POWERS BY THE DECISIONMAKERS OF THE SYSTEM TENDS TO THWART POSSIBLE POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF PAROLE SUPERVISION SERVICES. SUPPORTING DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. APPENDIXES INCLUDE NEW YORK'S RULES GOVERNING PAROLE, PAROLE AND DATA SHEETS, FORM FOR DENIAL OF PAROLE, AND QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN THE STUDY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)