Parole Rise of the determinate sentencing model Federally mandated prison population minimums Methods of Prison Release Decision to supervise after release Discretionary release release decided by some sort of paroling authority Mandatory release determined by operation of low where prison sentences come to end and authorities have no choice but to release prisoner Mixed system rely on parole boards to release some offenders violent offenders and rely on fixed prison terms to release other types of prisoners Conditional former prisoners placed on supervision in community for predetermined period of time and adhere to certain conditions of release drug testing no weapons etc example of this is parole go back to prison if don t adhere Unconditional ex offenders have no parole and no restrictions other than invisible collateral punishments Roughly 18 nationwide o Numbers have increased five fold increase in twenty year period but it is still pretty small Growth of Parole Population 1985 1994 number of parolees under supervision grew by 130 1981 136 per 100 000 rate has also been increasing By 2000 347 per 100 000 Disproportionate concentration states skew the national average some states are decreasing parolees but others are increasing CA 42 of all parolees CA TX NY IL PA Greater of released prisoners on parole than any other time in our history Currently 80 of those released prisoners on parole Reduced reliance on parole boards discretionary Increased reliance on parole supervision o Bottom Line for a large number of exiting prisoners we have lost the link between pre release preparation and post release supervision people released from prison never see a parole board so don t need to prepare a release plan have to get them out to fast stay under the federally mandated minimum so they are put on conditional release Recidivism rate is high b c they are immediately back on the streets Parole board was the link to prisoners and the community make sure person is ready to be released Parole Success Definition of success or failure No national standard comparison of successes and failures over time and across states is very difficult BJS Definition success term of community supervision with no return to prison jail or absconding from supervision Throughout the 1990 s success rate fairly stable 42 49 Disaggregation pull apart different groups and look at them individually First time release o o Success rate is much higher than that for prisoners who were already on parole 64 first time release see huge differences Can have implication for allocation of resources By state also see huge differences Differences between 19 OH and 84 CA Policies and practices of parole agencies contribute to these differences California 21 success rate just by taking CA out increase national avg success rate by 10 o o o Result in skewing the national average when it comes to how successful parolees are some rates have significantly different success rates How successful is someone when they are sent out on parole No single national standard for what it means to be a parolee no standard for what it means to fail on parole or successful on parole CA has hands on approach and puts everyone on parole FL takes a back seat gets rid of parole and have highest success rate because nobody is on parole Parole in FL October 1 1983 Discretionary parole release was abolished for almost all offenses committed on or after this date parole for those who committed crime before this date Sentencing guidelines took effect Gain Time Made to get inmates out faster worried about fines Release inmates to keep in line with the boundaries established by the federal court Crack epidemic and rising prison populations two more types of gain time introduced 1987 combined with the mandatory minimums Control Release Authority Point system and unlimited discretion Selective incapacitation and funds for more beds Ran out of prisoners to release and worried about not having room for new prisoners emphasize incarceration for violent offenders Hoping to only send the worst to prison not non violent offenders Got more funds for prison so got rid of control release authority Parole in FL Today Who is eligible People convicted of crimes before October 1 1983 are eligible for parole 59 000 inmates still eligible and tons that are still currently on parole Gaintime an inmates opportunity to earn a reduction if eligible in his or her overall sentence imposed by the court once they have completed 85 of their sentence Basic eliminated Jan 1 1994 o After serving 1 3 of sentences you can start shaving time off basic gain time Incentive awarded for work and participation in programs Meritorious awarded for an outstanding deed maximum award is 60 days Educational achievement up to 60 days for GED or certificate of completion of a vocational program Education up to 6 days for completion of literacy program Depending on crime committed may not be eligible for gain time How much time you get shaved off gain time depends on when crime was committed Not tested on numbers of days per month on FL DOC Release Process Effect Flaw selection by parole board Those that are released by parole board are going to be inherently better because they were hand picked opposed to those on mandatory release Post incarceration supervision CBA by parole board cost benefit analysis Can have the same effect as mandatory Reward prisoners who can present themselves wiling too accept mistakes and move forward Parole board determination is not reliable prisonization Timing of release programs help with transition back into the community Trade offs not considered on a case by case basis Psychologist on parole board Discretionary Mandatory Why Abolish Parole Argument longer prison sentences and truth in sentencing Abolishing parole contributes to bad correctional practices Release from prison should be earned Purpose of a parole board Ex Richard Allen Davis Released by CA prison on parole for the fourth time and he killed someone Reason for three strikes laws Abolishing parole reduces discretion Proponents public does not understand purpose through exercise of discretion that parole boards can target those offenders who need to stay in prison longer Media sensations politics win don t want people like Davis on the streets so make tougher policies Services and Parole Conditions Parole has moved away from their historical mission counseling job training and housing assistance