NCJ Number
81366
Date Published
1981
Length
44 pages
Annotation
Testimony before the Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee on the New Jersey State Parole Board primarily considers the adequacy of current law, which provides that the parole board must provide the burden of proof for not granting parole.
Abstract
The chairman of the Subcommittee, Sen. John Skevin, argues that the current parole board procedure, which places the burden of proof for not granting parole on the parole board, is not in accord with the concept that the prisoner has been found guilty of a crime beyond reasonable doubt and given an appropriate and just sentence. For this reason, argues Skevin, the prisoner should have the burden of proving that the sentence should be mitigated, thus implying that the parole system is weighted in favor of prisoners completing their court sentences. Members of the parole board testified in favor of continuing the procedure which places the burden of proof for not granting parole on the parole board. They argue that this provided the incentive for the parole board to investigate thoroughly the background and recent behavior of all those appearing before the board, so that any parole rejection is documented by evidence. Much of the testimony considered whether or not the crime rate can be significantly reduced by making parole more difficult, particularly since most prisoners will be released at some point, whether on parole or at the completion of their sentences. Other issues considered in testimony are inmate restitution and payment for prison room and board and rehabilitation services, and prison overcrowding in New Jersey. Testimony is heard from private citizens, ex-inmates, and corrections officials.