NCJ Number
199589
Journal
Justice Policy Journal: Analyzing Criminal and Juvenile Justice Issues and Policies Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: August 2001 Pages: 94-113
Editor(s)
Daniel Macallair
Date Published
August 2001
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This paper explores parole violations as one contributing factor to the prison overcrowding in the State of Hawaii.
Abstract
For the past two decades, the prison population in Hawaii has grown at a steady rate, from approximately 500 prison inmates in 1977 to approximately 4,800 prison inmates in 2000. Hawaii is one of the few States actively transferring inmates to out-of- State private facilities simply because the in-State facilities are not adequate. However, the average sentence lengths have remained relatively stable and crime rates have been dropping. This paper attempts to understand what might be causing or contributing to the State’s prison overcrowding problem. It is argued that the number of parole violators has been increasing over the years. Even though in Hawaii more parolees have been released over the years, many more are also being returned for technical violations of parole. To alleviate prison overcrowding, attention must be placed on both the number of parole technical violators filling the prisons, as well as the reasons for these returns. The purpose of parole supervision is the protection of society by providing leadership, assistance and guidance to the parole population in an effort to effect changes in behavior and lifestyles and enable these individuals to become stable, self-sufficient law-abiding citizens. Unfortunately, the parolees are not getting the help they need. The treatment of drug addiction is a primary key, as well as the need of parolees to find meaningful employment. The Hawaii Paroling Authority lacks any alternatives for parolees who have not complied with the conditions of parole. The State of Hawaii needs to develop and maintain meaningful alternatives to incarceration for both parole and probation violators. Figures and references