PROSPECTS FOR PAROLE - A REVIEW OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS IT

• NCJ Number: 68670
• Author(s): S MACKEY
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 25 pages
• Corporate Author: National Assoc for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THIS PAPER BRINGS TOGETHER CURRENT VIEWS ON THE PAROLE SYSTEM IN ENGLAND HELD BY MEMBERS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, PAROLE BOARDS, ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS, AND INDIVIDUAL PENOLOGY EXPERTS.

Abstract

THIS REPORT, INTRODUCED BY THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITISH PAROLE BOARD, DISCUSSES THE CURRENT PAROLE SYSTEM IN ENGLAND AND ARGUES THAT IT NEEDS REVISION, ALTHOUGH ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS DIFFER AS TO WHAT FORM THIS REVISION SHOULD TAKE. AMONG THE DETAILS OFFERED ON THE PAROLE SYSTEM ARE: QUALIFICATIONS FOR PAROLE BOARD MEMBERS; FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN GRANTING PAROLE (E.G., NATURE OF THE PRISONER'S OFFENSE; CRIMINAL AND OTHER HISTORY; PRISON BEHAVIOR AND RESPONSE TO TREATMENT; MEDICAL CONSIDERATIONS; HOME CIRCUMSTANCES AND EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS ON RELEASE; COOPERATION WITH PAROLE SUPERVISION). PRISONERS ON PAROLE ARE SUBJECT TO COMPULSORY SUPERVISION BY A PROBATION OFFICER; NON-COMPLIANCE BY A PAROLEE WITH ANY OF THE RELEASE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE PAROLE LICENSE MAY RESULT IN HIS RECALL TO PRISON. STATISTICS ON RECIDIVISM RATES AMONG PAROLEES, KEPT SINCE 1968, SHOW A LOW INCIDENCE. THIS REPORT STATES, HOWEVER, THAT THIS RESULT MAY BE CAUSED NOT ONLY BY THE BENEFICIAL NATURE OF THE PAROLE SYSTEM, BUT ALSO BY THE CAREFUL SCREENING TO WHICH PROSPECTIVE PAROLEES ARE SUBJECTED. ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ASPECTS OF THE EXISTING BRITISH PAROLE SYSTEM IS THE REFUSAL BY PAROLE BOARDS TO GIVE REASONS FOR DENYING PAROLE. EVEN PRISON OFFICIALS ARE NOT INFORMED AS TO WHY A PRISONER RECOMMENDED FOR PAROLE IS REMANDED TO CUSTODY AFTER A PAROLE HEARING. THIS PAPER INCLUDES THE RESULTS OF AN ATTITUDE SURVEY ON THE PAROLE SYSTEM, WITH EXCERPTS FROM OPINIONS EXPRESSED, AMONG OTHERS, BY: PAROLE BOARD MEMBERS, ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS (INCLUDING THE PRISON OFFICERS ASSOCIATION), AND BY INDIVIDUALS (INCLUDING A FORENSIC PHYSICIAN, PENOLOGY EXPERTS, AND THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITISH PAROLE BOARD). A LIST OF REFERENCES AND STATISTICAL TABLES ARE APPENDED.