PAROLE BOARD DECISION MAKING - AN EXAMINATION OF THE CRITERIA UTILIZED (FROM NEW AND THE OLD CRIMINOLOGY 1978, BY EDITH ELISABETH FLYNN AND JOHN P CONRAD - SEE NCJ-47562)

• NCJ Number: 47576
• Author(s): J E SCOTT; J STAHURA; R VANDIVER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 24 pages
• Corporate Author: Praeger Publishers
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DATA FROM THE RECORDS OF TWO MIDWESTERN PRISONS ON INMATES RELEASED FROM 1965 TO 1971 ARE ANALYZED TO DETERMINE THE CRITERIA PAROLE BOARDS USE WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ON PRISONERS' RELEASE DATES.

Abstract

VARIABLES FOR THE STUDY ARE GROUPED UNDER THREE FACTORS: LEGAL, INSTITUTIONAL, AND SOCIOBIOGRAPHICAL. THESE VARIABLES ARE CORRELATED WITH VARIATIONS IN SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENTS. THE SAMPLE DATA, GATHERED FROM THE RECORDS OF ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE INSTITUTION, ARE ANALYZED USING CORRELATION AND MULTIPLE REGRESSION TECHNIQUES. THE MAJOR FINDING IS THAT THE LEGAL SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME ACCOUNTS FOR ALMOST ALL THE VARIATION IN PUNISHMENT. THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME'S IMPORTANCE, HOWEVER, DIMINISHED SOMEWHAT BETWEEN 1969-1971. AN INMATE'S PRIOR CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL ADJUSTMENT WERE INSIGNIFICANTLY RELATED WITH THE SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENT. THE USEFULNESS OF PAROLE BOARDS IS QUESTIONED; THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO FULFILL ANY FUNCTION THAT THE COURTS COULD NOT HANDLE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT STRICT ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES BE ESTABLISHED FOR PAROLE BOARD DECISIONMAKING, AN INDEPENDENT OMBUDSMAN BE USED TO INTERVENE IF INJUSTICES OCCUR IN PAROLE BOARD DECISIONS, OR PAROLE BOARD POWERS BE DELEGATED TO THE COURTS. STUDY DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)