NCJ Number
172978
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Dated: September 1997 Pages: 23-31
Date Published
1997
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This brief historical review of the Federal parole system indicates the parole of Federal prisoners began after enactment of legislation in 1910 when there were three Federal penitentiaries and parole was granted by a board at each institution.
Abstract
Legislation in 1930 established a single Board of Parole at the national level, and the Bureau of Prisons performed administrative functions of this board. In 1945, due to a postwar increase in the prison population, the Board of Parole was directed to report to the U.S. Attorney General. Legislation in 1950 increased the size of the Board of Parole to eight members. In 1972, the Board of Parole began a pilot reorganization project that eventually included the establishment of five regions, the creation of explicit guidelines for parole release decision-making, the provision of written reasons for parole decisions, and an administrative appeal process. The Parole Commission and Reorganization Act began effective in 1976 and retitled the Board of Parole as the U.S. Parole Commission and established it as an independent agency within the U.S. Department of Justice. The Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 created the U.S. Sentencing Commission to establish sentencing guidelines for Federal courts. This act also provided for the abolition of the U.S. Parole Commission in 1992 after sentencing guidelines took effect. Subsequent legislation, however, authorized continuation of the U.S. Parole Commission until 2002. A chronological history of the Federal parole system is included. 5 references