PAROLE RELEASE DECISION-MAKING - REHABILITATION, EXPERTISE AND THE DEMISE OF MYTHOLOGY (FROM PAROLE LEGAL ISSUES/DECISION-MAKING/RESEARCH, 1975 BY WILLIAM E AMOS AND CHARLES L NEWMAN - SEE NCJ-29768)

• NCJ Number: 29769
• Author(s): R W KASTENMEIER; H C EGLIT
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 54 pages
• Corporate Author: Federal Legal Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTHORS EXAMINE THE COMMONLY CITED JUSTIFICATIONS OF REHABILITATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE FOR PAROLE DECISIONS, AND CONCLUDE THAT AS THESE TWO ELEMENTS ARE GENERALLY LACKING, DUE PROCESS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED.

Abstract

FIRST EXPLORED ARE PAROLE AS A COMPONENT OF THE CORRECTIONS PROCESS AND COMMON CRITICISMS OF PAROLE, INCLUDING PRISONER'S VIEWS ON PAROLE. THE AUTHORS STATE THAT IN THE FACE OF INCREASING CRITICISM, PAROLE AGENCIES HAVE OFFERED THE DEFENSE THAT THEY ARE A UNIQUE BODY, POSSESSING SPECIAL EXPERTISE WHICH IS EMPLOYED TO ASSESS THE REHABILITATION OF THE INMATE TO THE END OF DETERMINING WHEN HE IS READY FOR RELEASE TO THE FREE WORLD. AN EXAMINATION OF THE REHABILITATIVE AND EXPERT DECISION-MAKING ASPECTS OF PAROLE IS PROVIDED. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT THE TREND TOWARD RESTRICTING PAROLE AUTHORITY IS THE MOST PRODUCTIVE APPROACH IN VIEW OF THE ACTUAL NATURE OF PAROLE DECISION-MAKING. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS BE INTRODUCED; THAT PAROLE'S ROLE AS A MORAL ARBITER BE REMOVED, AND THAT COERCIVE ELEMENTS OF PAROLE BE ABANDONED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)