NCJ Number
41836
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1977) Pages: 180-186
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A PAROLE APPEALS PROCESS FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS, SET UP ADMINISTRATIVELY BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IN 1974, IS PROVING EFFECTIVE IN FOSTERING DUE PROCESS AND IN IMPLEMENTING DEPARTMENT POLICIES.
Abstract
UNDER THE PROGRAM, A YOUTH AND HIS PARENTS CAN APPEAL THE PAROLE DECISION. PAROLE AGENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS DIRECTLY RELATED TO A PAROLE DECISION ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT OF APPEAL. EACH OF THE THREE STATE INSTITUTIONS FOR DELINQUENT YOUTH HAS AN ACTION PANEL THAT MAKES PAROLE DECISIONS. ANY ORDER BY AN INSTITUTION'S ACTION PANEL CAN BE APPEALED TO THE JUVENILE REVIEW PANEL, WHICH CONSISTS OF A CHAIRMAN AND TWO MEMBERS WHO ARE PART OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONS' PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND HAVE NO OFFICIAL RELATIONSHIP TO THE JUVENILE INSTITUTIONS. IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF OPERATION, THE REVIEW PANEL HEARD 161 APPEALS OUT OF 3353 PAROLE HEARINGS. ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE APPEALS CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE JUVENILES INVOLVED AND THE VAST MAJORITY WERE AGAINST ACTION PANEL REFUSAL TO GRANT PAROLE. OF THE 161 APPEALS, THERE WERE 27 REVERSALS, 12 MODIFICATIONS OF ORDERS, AND 119 AFFIRMATIONS OF DECISIONS. THE APPEAL PROCESS ACHIEVES SEVERAL DESIRABLE GOALS IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN ADDITION TO DUE PROCESS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DEPARTMENT POLICY, INCLUDING STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND CHECK-AND-BALANCE MONITORING....ELW