NCJ Number
186833
Journal
Let's Talk Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Dated: 2000 Pages: 6-9
Date Published
2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the proceedings of the 16th annual conference of the Association of Paroling Authorities International (APAI) held in May 2000 in Ottawa, Canada.
Abstract
The APAI's mandate is to provide training and development for parole authorities around the world. Its membership is largely from the United States and Canada's national and provincial parole boards. One of the major conference goals was to increase participation in the APAI by parole officers from other countries. A plenary session on international approaches to conditional release concluded that where a system of conditional release is available, prisons are less crowded and safer, and offenders are prepared to return to society. Judging by conference discussions, a majority of countries believe conditional release presents a way to reduce the high number of inmates worldwide and safely return them to their communities. Conference participants received an overview of how parole operates in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Another plenary session focused on the prediction of risk in parole board decisions, and one workshop addressed the right of victims to have a voice in parole board hearings. Other topics discussed in the course of the conference were Canada's National Parole Board's special investigation for serious, violent offenders; the management of difficult parolees; building community support for conditional release; and how the Connecticut Board of Parole convinced politicians and citizens to retain parole in that State.