DOES PAROLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

• NCJ Number: 59258
• Author(s): H R SACKS; C H LOGAN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 120 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Connecticut
• Sale Source: University of Connecticut
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FINDINGS FROM A STUDY OF CONNECTICUT OFFENDERS IMPRISONED FOR MINOR FELONIES INDICATE THAT PAROLE CAUSED A MODEST, BUT DEFINITE, REDUCTION IN RECIDIVISM. REASONS FOR THIS EFFECT ARE EXPLORED.

Abstract

IN RESPONSE TO THE 1974 CONNECTICUT SUPREME COURT DECISION HOLDING THAT THE CONNECTICUT CONSTITUTION WAS VIOLATED BY THE SENTENCING OF PERSONS WHO HAD COMMITTED MINOR FELONIES TO EXCESSIVE PRISON TERMS, OVER 400 OFFENDERS WERE QUICKLY DISCHARGED FROM THEIR SENTENCES. THE 167 OFFENDERS IN INSTITUTIONS WERE UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASED TO THE COMMUNITY, AND 115 WERE USED AS AN EXPERIMENTAL GROUP IN A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF PAROLE. A CONTROL GROUP OF 57 PAROLEES HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY DISCHARGED. A 1-YEAR FOLLOWUP OF BOTH GROUPS REVEALED DATA RELATED TO CRIMINAL CONDUCT AND CIVIL COMMITMENTS AFTER RELEASE. MEASURES OF RECIDIVISM, INCLUDING SUCCESS AND FAILURE AS DETERMINED BY CONVICTIONS, WERE DEVELOPED. THE FINDING THAT ONLY 37 PERCENT OF THE PAROLEES RETURNED TO CRIME, WHILE 63 PERCENT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL NONPAROLEES RETURNED TO CRIME, IS CONSIDERED STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT. PAROLE HAD A DEFINITE, BUT ONLY MODEST EFFECT ON RECIDIVISM. MOREOVER, THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP, WHILE FAILING AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THE PAROLEES, DID NOT COMMIT MORE SERIOUS CRIMES, AND THEY WERE NOT LESS SUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF TOTAL TIME SPENT BACK IN THE COMMUNITY. A COMPARISON OF THE TWO GROUPS BASED ON 12 VARIABLES INDICATES THAT THE GROUPS WERE BASICALLY IDENTICAL IN TERMS OF AGE AND EDUCATION, DIFFERING ONLY IN A HIGHER AVERAGE NUMBER OF PRIOR SENTENCES FOR THE CONTROL GROUP. ALTERNATIVE EXPLANTIONS FOR THE STUDY'S FINDINGS INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF PAROLEE STATUS ON GAINING EMPLOYMENT, AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PHENOMENON KNOWN AS THE 'HAWTHORNE EFFECT' WHICH REFERS REFERS TO CHANGES IN SUBJECTS CAUSED BY THE ATTENTION WHICH THEY RECEIVE DURING THE STUDY. COMPARISON WITH OTHER STUDIES OF PAROLE REVEAL THAT THE REPORTED STUDY HAS ADVANTAGES IN BEING LIMITED TO A SINGLE STATE SYSTEM. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE A MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG RISK OF FAILURE, PAROLE, AND OUTCOME. TABULAR DATA AND FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)