NCJ Number
186861
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 64 Issue: 2 Dated: December 2000 Pages: 3-10
Editor(s)
Timothy P. Cadigan,
Ellen Wilson Fielding
Date Published
2000
Length
8 pages
Annotation
In October 1997, Colorado-CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants), a non-profit prisoner advocacy group, collected information via its quarterly newsletter from inmates regarding parole board hearings that resulted in a setback or parole deferral.
Abstract
Inmates were asked to send copies of their appeals and responses they received from the parole board to Colorado-CURE, and 180 inmates responded. The inmates provided information in letters ranging in length from very brief descriptions of parole board hearings to multiple page diatribes listing not only parole board issues but also complaints about prison conditions, prison staff, and the criminal justice system in general. Of the 180 letters, 52 were eliminated because they did not directly address the individual inmate's own parole hearing. The analysis focused on 128 letters from 125 male and 3 female inmates. Complaints about denial of parole reflected the belief of many inmates that the parole board used criteria for release decisions that were hidden from inmates and their families. Inmates said release decisions by the parole board appeared to be largely subjective and to follow latent norms that emerged over time. The emphasis on past and current crimes indicated to inmates that, regardless of their institutional adjustment or progress in treatment, vocational, or educational programs, they would continue to be denied parole until they had been sufficiently punished for their crimes. The analysis indicated factors inmates believed affected release decisions were different from factors the parole board considered, and this suggested why inmates failed to understand why their parole was deferred despite compliance with prerequisites imposed on them. 34 references and 1 table