NCJ Number
48399
Date Published
1977
Length
11 pages
Annotation
POLICIES AND PROGRAMS INSTITUTED BY THE PRISON SERVICE IN ENGLAND AND WALES TO FACILITATE THE REINTEGRATION OF OFFENDERS INTO THE COMMUNITY ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE BASIC PHILOSOPHY OF THE BRITISH PAROLE SYSTEM HOLDS THAT LONG PERIODS IN CUSTODY ARE LIKELY TO DISCOURAGE PROGRESSIVELY THE SUCCESSFUL RETURN OF OFFENDERS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND AS A RESULT, EVERY PRISONER SERVING A FIXED SENTENCE OF OVER 18 MONTHS IS ELIGIBLE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR PAROLE AFTER HAVING SERVED ONE-THIRD OF THE SENTENCE OR 12 MONTHS, WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. IN CONSIDERING A PRISONER'S SUITABILITY FOR PAROLE, A LOCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE IS PROVIDED WITH REPORTS COVERING THE SOCIAL BACKGROUND OF THE PRISONER; THE NATURE AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE OFFENSE AND OF PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS; THE PRISONER'S CONDUCT AND RESPONSE TO PRISON TREATMENT AND TRAINING; AND THE CONDITIONS THE PRISONER WILL ENCOUNTER UPON RELEASE IN TERMS OF THE HOME, WORK, AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT. THE PAROLE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR PRISONERS SERVING LIFE TERMS ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT; THERE IS NO PRESCRIBED STAGE OF A LIFE SENTENCE AT WHICH THE PRISONER IS STATUTORILY ELIGIBLE FOR REFERRAL TO A PAROLE COMMITTEE. WHEN THE LOCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE CONSIDERS A LIFE SENTENCE CASE, IT IS PROVIDED WITH A FULL DOSSIER WHICH INCLUDES A SUMMARY OF THE PRISONER'S OFFENSE AND PERSONAL BACKGROUND; DETAILS OF THE PRISONER'S TRIAL; AND COPIES OF REPORTS MADE AT INTERVALS THROUGHOUT THE PRISONER'S SENTENCE BY GOVERNORS, ASSISTANT GOVERNORS, MEDICAL OFFICERS, CHAPLAINS, PROBATION OFFICERS, AND EDUCATION OFFICERS. THIS DOSSIER AND THE REVIEW COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THAN STUDIED BY THE HOME OFFICE, WHICH DECIDES WHETHER TO PASS THE CASE ON TO THE PAROLE BOARD. DURING THE PRERELEASE PERIOD, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT VISIT PENAL INSTITUTIONS TO INTERVIEW OFFENDERS AND TO TRY TO PLACE THEM IN JOBS; PRISONERS SOMETIMES CAN BE RELEASED TEMPORARILY TO ENABLE THEM TO VISIT PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS. PRISONERS WITH LONG SENTENCES MAY BE INTRODUCED GRADUALLY INTO THE COMMUNITY BY LEAVING PRISON EVERY WORKING DAY DURING THE LAST STAGE OF THEIR SENTENCE AND WORKING FOR A PRIVATE EMPLOYER. ADDITIONALLY, THE MAJORITY OF THE MALE PRISONERS SERVING SENTENCES OF 3 YEARS OR MORE IN TRAINING PRISONS AND WOMEN PRISONERS SERVING SENTENCES OF 3 YEARS OR MORE ARE CONSIDERED FOR 2 PERIODS OF HOME LEAVE IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS OF THEIR SENTENCE. AFTER-CARE PROGRAMS THAT HAD THEIR BEGINNINGS IN VOLUNTARY EFFORTS IN THE 19TH CENTURY HAVE BEEN CONTINUED, AND WHILE COMPULSORY AFTER-CARE APPLIES TO SEVERAL CATEGORIES OF OFFENDERS (E.G., OFFENDERS WHO WERE UNDER 21 WHEN SENTENCED, ADULT OFFENDERS GRANTED EARLY RELEASE), MOST ADULT OFFENDERS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL OR COMPULOSRY AFTER-CARE, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH PROGRAMS. ONE TYPE OF VOLUNTARY POSTRELEASE ORGANIZATION FOR INMATES IS AFTER-CARE HOSTELS, WHICH PROVIDE HELP AND SUPPORT FOR OFFENDERS ALONG WITH REASONABLE STANDARDS OF BOARD AND LODGING. (KBL)