1. Correctional
Issues

2. Reentry into the Community

3.  Most Inmates Eventually Released into
Society
 Over three-fourths will be on parole
 Parole
▪ Grace or privilege
▪ Contract of consent
▪ Custody

4.  Number of Adults under Parole Supervision,
1980-2007.

5.  Maconochie
 Classification procedure
▪ Strict imprisonment
▪ Labor on chain gangs
▪ Freedom within a limited area
▪ Ticket-of-leave or parole with conditional pardon
▪ Full restoration of liberty

6.  Crofton
 Progress through prison and ticket-of-leave
linked
 Parole included a series of conditions
▪ Report monthly to police

7.  United States
 Brockway
▪ Elmira Reformatory
 Indeterminate sentencing followed by parole
 U.S. Board of Parole

8.  Methods of Release from State Prison

9.  Discretionary Release
 Mandatory Release
 Probation Release
 Reinstatement Release
 Other Conditional Releases
 Expiration Release

10.  Procedure
 Eligibility
▪ Sentence
▪ Statutory criteria
▪ Conduct prior to incarceration
▪ Often minimum sentence minus good time
▪ Parole board discretion
▪ One-third to one-half of the maximum sentence

11.  Release Criteria
 Normally include at least eight factors
▪ Offense
▪ Prior criminal record
▪ Attitudes
▪ Institutional adjustment/participation/progress
▪ History of community adjustment
▪ Physical, mental, and emotional health
▪ Insight into causes of past criminal conduct
▪ Adequacy of parole plan

12.  Release Criteria
 Discretionary
▪ Moral judgments
▪ Culpability
▪ Adequacy of sentence
▪ DNA
▪ Legal and ethical issues

13.  Structuring Parole Decisions
 Parole guidelines
 Three criteria
▪ Substantial observance of institutional rules
▪ Release will not devalue seriousness of offense or
promote disrespect for the law
▪ Release will not jeopardize public welfare

14.  The Impact of Release Mechanisms
 Shorten a sentence
 Encourages plea bargaining
 Mitigates the harshness of the penal code
 Reduce prison populations

15.  Second Chance Act of 2007
 Provides federal grants to states and
communities to support reentry initiatives
▪ Employment
▪ Housing
▪ substance abuse
▪ Mental health treatment
▪ Children and family services

16.  Community Supervision
 Conditions of release
▪ Abstain from alcohol
▪ Stay away from undesirable associates
▪ maintain good work habits
▪ Do not leave the community without permission

17.  Revocation
 Parole can be revoked for two reasons
▪ Committing a new crime
▪ Violating conditions of parole
 In practice
▪ Usually requires persistent non-compliance or
▪ Arrest on a serious charge
 Supreme Court requirements

18.  Revocation
 Percentage of Prison Admissions Who are Parole Violators

19.  Parole Officer
 Surveillance
▪ Restriction
▪ Enforcement
▪ Revocation
 Assistance
▪ Jobs
▪ Families
▪ Human service agencies

20.  The Strangeness of Reentry
 Changes
 Unfamiliar freedom
 Supervision and Surveillance
 Not really free

21.  The Problem of Unmet Personal Needs
 Education
 Money
 Job
 Drug and alcohol problems
 Mental health
 Housing

22.  Barriers to Success
 Employment
▪ Conviction viewed as
untrustworthy
▪ Statutory bars
▪ Expungement
▪ Pardon

23.  Barriers to Success
 Civil disabilities
▪ Right to vote and hold public office
▪ “War on Drugs”
▪ Access to public assistance and food stamps
▪ Living in public housing
▪ Having a driver’s license
▪ Being a foster parent or adopting children
▪ Receiving student loans

24.  Four Factors
 Get substance abuse under control.
 Get a job.
 Develop a support group of family and friends.
 Get a sense of “who I am.”

25.  Reentry Courts
 Judicial supervision
 Emphasis on involvement of judicial and
correctional officials in
▪ Prerelease needs of prisoner
▪ Linkages to family
▪ Social services
▪ Housing
▪ Employment