NCJ Number
132659
Date Published
1991
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This study considers the impact of Finnish 1990 parole reform legislation on cases that involve the loss of parole due to disciplinary infractions.
Abstract
The legislation took effect May 1, 1990. At that time, the disposition of parole disciplinary infractions was transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the courts of first instance. The reform was precipitated by the Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights which became effective in Finland in May 1990. The law requires that parolees behave in a prescribed manner. A parolee who violates these conditions is guilty of a disciplinary infraction that can lead to the cancellation of parole. This report addresses the practice of the authorities in such cases during the 6 months following the reform. During this period the courts processed 20 applications for parole revocation due to disciplinary infractions. This is approximately 10 percent of the number of cases handled by the Ministry of Justice during the corresponding period prior to the reform. One of the purposes of the reform was to clarify the concept of "disciplinary infractions." This study indicates this clarification has decreased the number of cases considered by the authorities. Another factor in the decrease has been the proportionately smaller number of parolees supervised by the police. This is an interim report, since the study will continue through the end of 1991. 15 references and 16 footnotes