NCJ Number
19445
Date Published
1975
Length
55 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY STATE PRISONERS DENIED PAROLE CONDUCTED TO SUPPORT THE AUTHOR'S CONTENTION THAT THE PAROLE BOARDS CRITERIA FOR DENYING PAROLE WAS BOTH ARBITRARY AND INVALID.
Abstract
THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX OF THE 329 INMATES DENIED PAROLE AT THE STATE PRISON AT TRENTON SINCE THE 1971 STATE SUPREME COURT RULING (MONK V. NEW JERSEY STATE PAROLE BOARD) REQUIRING THE BOARD TO GIVE REASONS ANYTIME IT DENIED PAROLE PARTICIPATED IN THIS SURVEY. DATA WAS GATHERED ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE INMATES DINIED PAROLE AND THE REASONS GIVEN FOR DENIAL. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PRISONER WHO IS DENIED PAROLE IN NEW JERSEY IS LIKELY TO BE 35 YEARS OLD, BLACK, EITHER PROTESTANT OR MUSLIM, EITHER PRESENTLY MARRIED OR MARRIED SOMETIME IN THE PAST, AND CONVICTED OF A VIOLENT CRIME. DUE TO THE EXTREME FREQUENCY OF CERTAIN REASONS GIVEN FOR DENIAL, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE PAROLE BOARD USES AN UNDISCLOSED FORMULA FOR DENYING PAROLE (INSTEAD OF THE INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION CITED AS THE BOARD'S GOAL). REFORM OF THE NEW JERSEY STATE PAROLE BOARD IS SUGGESTED. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS SOME ACTUAL QUOTES FROM PAROLE DENIALS AND COPIES OF THE INDIVIDUAL PAROLE AFFIDAVIT FORM AND THE MODEL PAROLE ACT PROPOSED BY THE ADHOC PAROLE COMMITTEE.