PAROLE GUIDELINES - THE KEY RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• NCJ Number: 58503
• Author(s): J L GALVIN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 26 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: TESTIMONY GIVEN BEFORE THE US PAROLE COMMISSION, DENVER (CO), DECEMBER 8, 1978

Annotation

TESTIMONY GIVEN BEFORE THE U.S. PAROLE COMMISSION REGARDING PAROLE GUIDELINES, IS PRESENTED BY A RESEARCHER IN THE CORRECTIONS FIELD.

Abstract

IN THE DEBATE OVER THE FUTURE OF PAROLE AND THE NATURE OF SENTENCING, FOUR BASIC EQUITY ISSUES APPEAR REGULARLY. FIRST, THE NEED FOR REDUCTION OF JUDICIAL SENTENCING DISPARITY. SECOND, THE NEED FOR GREATER CONSISTENCY IN PAROLE DECISIONMAKING. THIRD, THE NEED TO STRUCTURE DISCRETION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FOURTH, THE NEED TO MAKE EXPLICIT THE BASIS FOR DECISIONMAKING IN PAROLE. THE U.S. PAROLE COMMISSION HAS RESPONDED TO THESE NEEDS BY ADOPTING A GUIDELINES APPROACH, BASED UPON THREE PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES. FIRST, TO SYSTEMATICALLY RELATE THE SENTENCE SERVED TO OFFENSE SEVERITY AND OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS. SECOND, TO SYSTEMATICALLY PROVIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE INCLUSION OF RISK ASSESSMENT IN THE PAROLE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS. THIRD, TO CONTINUE TO CONSIDER THE OFFENDER'S PROGRESS AS MEASURED BY INSTITUTIONAL PERFORMANCE AS A FACTOR IN THE PAROLE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS. RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND RELATED RESEARCH ACTIVITIES CAN BE GROUPED INTO THREE AREAS INCLUDING OFFENSE SEVERITY, RISK ASSESSMENT, AND OVERALL SYSTEM IMPACT OF CORRECTIONAL POLICY CHANGES SUCH AS ADOPTION OF GUIDELINES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT RESEARCH FOCUS UPON THE APPROPRIATENESS OF SENTENCE LENGTHS; SOURCES OF INFORMATION MIGHT INCLUDE PUBLIC OPINION POLLS, VICTIMIZATION STUDIES, AND OFFENSE SEVERITY RESEARCH. THE DISCRETION OF THE PAROLE COMMISSION, AS STRUCTURED BY THE GUIDELINES, SHOULD ALSO BE EVALUATED. INMATE PERCEPTIONS OF THE GUIDELINES AND IMPACT OF THE GUIDELINES ON TIME SERVED SHOULD ALSO BE INVESTIGATED. WITH REGARD TO RISK ASSESSMENT, ACCURACY OF THE SALIENT FACTORS USED AS PREDICTORS IN PAROLE SUCCESS PREDICTION SHOULD BE CHECKED, AS SHOULD PAROLE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND RECIDIVISM PREDICTORS. THE POTENTIAL FOR STRUCTURING DISCRETION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE IMPACT ON CORRECTIONAL STAFF OF CHANGING THE PURPOSE OF CORRECTIONS, AND THE IMPACT OF EMPHASIZING EQUITY IN DECISIONMAKING ON THE PAROLEE SHOULD BE THE TOPICS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH EFFORTS. BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (LWM)