Parole Essay Research Paper Parole is defined

Parole Essay, Research Paper

Parole is defined as the conditional release of inmates from prison to serve the remainder of their sentences under community correctional supervision (Silverman 509). This concept was created to encourage good behavior and to reinforce the ultimate goal of the prison system, rehabilitation. In fact, the term parole is derived from the French phrase d honneur, meaning word of honor (Silverman 510). While this seems like an ideal arrangement, we must constantly remember that we are talking about the release of a convict, someone who was found guilty under our judicial system. If these people are capable of blatantly violating our laws, what makes us believe that their word of honor means anything at all? How can we trust a felon to return to society without putting the innocent at risk?

Studies show that approximately 62% of prisoners released on parole are rearrested for a felony or serious misdemeanor within 3 years (Corbo 1). In fact, recidivism rates show that 1 out of 4 parolees were rearrested in the first 6 months and 2 out of 5 within the first year after their release (Beck 1). To understand better the severity of these statistics we must research what types of crimes are being committed after release and also what types of criminals are being paroled. We have found through studies that released prisoners are often rearrested for the same type of crime for which they served time in prison. If a large majority of the paroled are originally convicted of misdemeanors or less serious felonies, the risk of recidivism is then not a huge gamble of society s well being. Unfortunately, when looking at statistics this is not often the case.

According to the Bureau if Justice Reports, 59.6% of all violent offender parolees are rearrested within 3 years of their release, along with 68% of property offenses, 54.6% of public-order offenders, and 50.4% of drug offenders (Beck 2). Even more alarming than this, is that we also have to consider that the Bureau of Justice Statistics findings come only from reported crimes. We must assume then, that an even larger rate of recidivism is occurring, though we cannot statistically measure it. These figures become even more horrifying when looked at as actual crimes. An estimated 67,898 of the 108,580 prisoners who were released, were rearrested and charged with 326,746 new offenses by the year s end. More than 50,000 of the new charges were violent offenses, including 2,282 homicides, 1,451 kidnappings, 1,291 rapes, 2,626 other sexual assaults, 17,060 robberies, and 22,633 other assaults.

We employ the theory of preventable patrol in our law enforcement agencies, where a large amount of time and money is spent by having police patrol our streets in an attempt to reduce preventable crimes. Are the above crimes not preventable? Studies do indicate a trend, relating increased lengths of imprisonment with decreased rates of recidivism (Beck 9). By enforcing the strictest interpretation of their sentences, would we be able to prevent some of these crimes? After all these sentences are not simply arbitrary punishments. We have experienced and educated judges, federal sentencing guidelines, and various other sources to determine the appropriate length of imprisonment needed to prevent the offender from committing new offenses. Therefore, when we parole, we are going against the studies of prior trends, the advisement of judges and prosecutors, and in essence taking a huge risk. It is our system and the discretion of parole boards that decides whether or not an offender is rehabilitated , yet when their judgments are faulty it is society who pays. Shouldn t our dedication stands towards protecting the innocent members of our community, rather than the offenders who violated our vital laws.

To determine who shall be paroled, we have created a State Parole Board, which is composed of nine members appointed by the Governor to serve staggered six-year terms. The nine members are then divided into three panels to consider state prison, young adult, and juvenile cases. The Chairperson is therefore the ninth member of the Board and the third member of each panel. They base their decisions on a process known as presumptive parole , meaning that unless the Board finds that a substantial likelihood exists that an inmate may commit a new crime if released, there is a presumption that parole will ordinarily be granted (Keels 38). In parole consideration for inmates convicted of murder, the full nine member Board must concur on his/her release. After parole is granted to an inmate, they are released with specific conditions to be met while on parole. These conditions require certain obligations to be met and also restrict the parolee s activities. These parole conditions are supposed to be strictly monitored by the Bureau of Parole of the Department of Corrections (Keels 39). The Bureau of Parole mission is to provide the supervision and related services for parolees released from incarceration, while focusing on their main goal of providing community protection in conjunction with a successful reintegration of the parolee into society (Keels 40).

While this system sounds ideal, we know from the statistics shown above that this system is failing in far too many instances. 6.6% of paroled murderers are rearrested for homicide (Beck 2). Given this fact and given that keeping these known criminal