NCJ Number
14588
Date Published
1974
Length
49 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER SUMMARIZES A 300-PAGE STUDY OF THE NEW YORK STATE PAROLE SYSTEM CONDUCTED BY THE CITIZENS' INQUIRY ON PAROLE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
Abstract
THE CITIZENS' INQUIRY REPUDIATES BOTH THE THEORY AND THE PRACTICE OF PAROLE. THIS SUMMARY DESCRIBES THE THEORY OF PAROLE IN NEW YORK, SHOWS HOW CURRENT PRACTICE DIVERGES FROM THIS THEORY, DEMONSTRATES THE INVALIDITY OF THE THEORY ITSELF, AND SETS FORTH LONG-TERM AND TRANSITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS. RESEARCH FOR THIS STUDY INCLUDED OBSERVING TWO HUNDRED PAROLE RELEASE HEARINGS, INTERVIEWING THIRTY PAROLE OFFICIALS AND OVER ONE HUNDRED PAROLEES, REVIEWING ALL THE STATUTES RELATING TO PAROLE SINCE 1877, READING ALL THE ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE DIVISION OF PAROLE SINCE 1930, CHECKING ALL NEW YORK TIMES REFERENCES TO PAROLE IN THE LAST FORTY YEARS, AND STUDYING THE RELEVANT LEGAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL SCHOLARSHIP. THE MAJOR CONCLUSION OF THE CITIZENS' INQUIRY REPORT WAS THAT PAROLE SHOULD BE ABOLISHED IN NEW YORK. TO THIS END, SEVERAL OTHER BOTH LONG AND SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PENAL REFORM ARE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)