PAROLING POLICY GUIDELINES - A MATTER OF EQUITY SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT 9

• NCJ Number: 13244
• Author(s): P B HOFFMAN; D M GOTTFREDSON
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 51 pages
• Grant Number(s): 72-NI-99-0017; NI-71-080
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DESCRIBES DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF A PRELIMINARY MODEL INTENDED TO ASSIST IN FORMULATING AND IMPLEMENTING AN EXPLICIT POLICY, AND WEIGHS ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS.

Abstract

IN THE PREFACE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED STATES BOARD OF PAROLE DISCUSSES THE NEED FOR MORE EXPLICIT DEFINITION OF FACTORS USED IN PAROLE SELECTION AND THE PROBLEM OF DETERMINING HOW VARIOUS FACTORS SHOULD BE WEIGHTED. HE POINTS OUT THAT IMPLICIT POLICY MAY BE MADE EXPLICIT THROUGH AN ANALYSIS OF PRESENT PRACTICE. THE MAJOR TASK OF THE PAROLE BOARD IS TO SET STANDARDS AND EXPLICIT POLICIES. IN ORDER TO FURTHER THESE OBJECTIVES, A FEDERAL PILOT REGIONALIZATION PROJECT MAKES USE OF DECISION GUIDELINES WHICH DO NOT REMOVE DISCRETION, BUT ENABLE ITS EXERCISE IN A FAIR AND RATIONAL MANNER. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO STRUCTURE AND CONTROL DISCRETION AND TO PROVIDE AN EXPLICIT, UNIFORM POLICY CONTRIBUTING TO THE ISSUES OF FAIRNESS AND EQUITY. IN THE FORWARD, LESLIE WILKINS DISCUSSES THE RELATION OF FAIRNESS TO JUSTICE AND SHOWS THAT THE LATTER CAN BE ADDRESSED BY RESEARCH. THE RELATION OF EFFECTIVENESS TO FAIRNESS IS CONSIDERED, AND MODELS WHICH COULD TAKE THESE CONCERNS INTO ACCOUNT ARE SUGGESTED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)