NCJ Number
115409
Journal
Justice Report Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (Fall 1988) Pages: 16-17
Date Published
1988
Length
2 pages
Annotation
In commenting on issues discussed in Canada's Daubney Report, which focuses on criminal justice reforms, a crime victim discusses appointments to the National Parole Board, drugs, female inmates, sex offender treatment, counseling versus control, halfway houses, probation and parole caseloads, evidence for parole revocation, and house arrest.
Abstract
Regarding appointments to the National Parole Board, the qualifications of potential members should be scrutinized by an independent selection board to prevent the influence of political patronage in the appointment of board members. Regarding efforts to address the drug problem, the possession of 'soft' drugs should be decriminalized, and imprisonment should be reserved only for the hard-core drug pusher. The needs of female inmates could better be served by housing men and women together in small facilities to increase women's access to standardized programs. Treatment plans for sex offenders should be incorporated in their sentencing, and resources should be mandated for specific treatment plans to ensure their implementation. Halfway house staff should not be expected to perform a control function over residents, since the counseling and control functions often conflict. Parole officers should fulfill the control function for halfway house residents. More halfway houses are required for special offenders. Probation and parole caseloads should be reduced, and evidence for parole revocation should be more clearly specified. House arrest using electronic monitoring promises to reduce incarceration without compromising public safety.