CHAPTER 7

PAROLE

CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS

 

 

PAROLE GROWTH RATE COMPARED

Year

Total

Probation

Prison

Jail

Parole

1980

 

61%

17%

10%

12%

1990

 

61%

17%

10%

12%

2000

 

59%

20%

9%

11%

Growth

247%

240%

306%

229%

218%

  1. Origins of Parole

 Europeon History:

A. Captain Alexander Maconochie

B. Sir Walter Crofton

 American History:

Early pre parole practies


Cincinnati Declaration of Priciples

Zebulon Brockway--Indeterminate Sentence

Growth of Parole

 Texas History:

1929:

1930-1947:

1935:

1947:

1956:

1957:

 

 

 

 

  1. Release Mechanisms:

 

 Discretionary Release:

 

Texas:

Fixed Determinate Sentence:

 

Most inmates will be eligible for parole when:

actual calendar time served + good conduct time = 1/4 of their sentence or 15 years whichever is less.

life sentence for capital offense: inmate must serve 40 years

 

 Mandatory Release:

Texas:

 

 Unconditional Release:

  1. Parole Boards

 Composition

Texas:

6 offices throughout the State

Virtually no qualifications.

 

 

 Duties:

 

 Procedures

 Parole release notifications

 

 Pre-parole Investigations:

 

 Pre- Release Report:

 Institutional Adjustment

 Release plan

 Victim Impact Statement:

 

 

 

 Parole Hearing:

Texas: Panels of 3 review the cases.

Two of the three must agree on a release to be granted.

 

 

 

 

 Release Decisions:

 

 

 Release Outcomes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Release Rates

Texas: The parole board reviews about 30,000 cases per year. Rate is now 21%.

  1. Parole Conditions:

 Report to the parole officer

 Minimum:

 Medium:

 Maximum:

 

 

 Obey all laws

 Obtain permission to change residence or travel out of state

  No firearms or illegal weapons

 Don't associate with those of criminal background

 No alcohol or drug use

 Special conditions:

 Halfway house, sex offender requirements, ISP, electronic monitoring, substance abuse treatment, educational programs, counseling

 SISP (Super-Intensive Supervision Program

 

IV. Supervision in the Community

 Parole Officers

Qualifications: Bachelors degree and 2 years experience

 

 Classification:

 

 Caseload:

Regular caseload = 69.

ISP = 27 (2,000)

SISP = 11 (1,500)

 

 

 Rehabilitation programs

 Project RIO: (Texas Re-integration of Offenders Project)

 

 Substance Abuse Aftercare Treatment Program:

 Sex Offender

 Mentally disabled

 

 

 

 

 

 Recidivism:

1983

 25% arrested in 6 months

 40% in first year

 62% in 2 years

 40% were be re-incarcerated within 3 years.

 

1994

 30% arrested in first 6 months

 44% in first year

 59% in two years

 67% in three years

 52% were re-incarcerated within 3 years

 

 

 

Parole Revocation:

 Types of violations:

 technical

 new offense

blue warrant: No bond

 

 Hearing

Morrisey v. Brewer (1972) parolees have some basic rights

 notice of the charges

 notice of the evidence

 speak on their own behalf

 present witnesses

 confront witnesses against them

 neutral and detached hearing body

 written statement from the hearing body as to the reason for their decision

Gagnon v. Scarpelli (1973): created an additional right to counsel in revocation hearings

 

 

 

V. Future of Parole

 

 

Does discretionary parole have a value?

 

 

VI. Other Release programs:

 Pardons: restores civil rights

 

In Texas the governor can pardon but only after recommendation of the parole board.

 Commutation:

 

 

VII. Loss of civil liberties (felony convictions)

Texas

 

 

 

 

 

Other States:

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