NCJ Number
57056
Journal
Police Volume: 11 Issue: 7 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 16-18,20
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
ENGLAND'S PAROLE SYSTEM, BASED ON A 1965 WHITE PAPER DEALING WITH ADULT OFFENDERS RELEASED TO COMPLETE THEIR SENTENCES IN THE COMMUNITY, AND FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN MAKING THE PAROLE RECOMMENDATION ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE WHITE PAPER STRESSED THE NEED FOR STRENGTHENING THE LINK BETWEEN PRISONERS AND THE COMMUNITY AND FOR DEVELOPING WAYS OF EASING THE TRANSITION FROM CUSTODIAL SENTENCES TO THE COMMUNITY. GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS IN THIS PAPER WERE INCORPORATED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL PRESENTED BEFORE PARLIAMENT IN 1966. THE BILL WAS AMENDED SO AS TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT PAROLE BOARD, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STIPULATED THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE MUST MAKE REFERRALS TO AND REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD. UNDER THE PAROLE SYSTEM, AS OPERATIONALIZED, PRISONERS BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION AS A PAROLE CANDIDATE WHEN THEY HAVE SERVED 12 MONTHS OR ONE-THIRD OF THEIR SENTENCES, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. FOR LIFE SENTENCE CASES, THERE IS NO STATUTORY PERIOD AFTER WHICH SUITABILITY FOR PAROLE MUST BE REVIEWED. PRISONERS DO NOT HAVE TO APPLY FOR CONSIDERATION AS A PAROLE CANDIDATE; THEY ARE AUTOMATICALLY BROUGHT UNDER REVIEW AS THEIR PAROLE ELIGIBILITY DATE APPROACHES. LOCAL REVIEW COMMITTEES ATTACHED TO PRISONS DETERMINE WHETHER A PRISONER IS SUITABLE FOR PAROLE. THE PAROLE BOARD RECEIVES APPROXIMATELY 5,000 CASES A YEAR FOR REVIEW, AND ABOUT 95 PERCENT ARE DETERMINATE SENTENCE CASES. PAROLEES ARE SUBJECT TO RECALL IF THEY FAIL TO MEET CONDITIONS OF PAROLE OR IF THEY COMMIT ANOTHER OFFENSE. FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN MAKING THE PAROLE RECOMMENDATION PERTAIN TO PUNISHMENT, DETERRENCE, RISK, BEHAVIOR, SUPERVISION, DETERIORATION, AND THE RELEASE PLAN. MAJOR ITEMS IN PAROLE DOSSIERS ARE A DESCRIPTION OF THE CRIME, THE CRIMINAL RECORD, COMMENTS OF THE TRIAL JUDGE, INFORMATION ON THE HOME BACKGROUND AND CIRCUMSTANCES, MEDICAL REPORTS, INFORMATION ON PRISON PERFORMANCE, AND OPTIONAL WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS PREPARED BY THE PRISONER. (DEP)