Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies

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The parole model shall also have a compliance officer who should have a background in human resource , this officers’ duties is to make certain all rules and guidelines are followed and that all the staff meets with the code of conduct of the organization, which will ensure no breaches.

Services provided, shall be in keeping with adult parolees, and adult correctional intuitions. All programs available shall be geared to the successfully placing the offender back in the community, and becoming a productive citizen. Privately run drug rehabilitation facilities and state run skill training intuitions, will be made available to reinforce the skills acquired in the correctional facilities. Community services programs, such as talks to at risk youths and community clean ups and restoration of community based state facilities may be part of community service.

Successful integration back into the community is the key goal of this model. This process can begin by including the correctional institutions in the process from the inception of sentencing. From year one a case worker maybe assigned to a specific offender, who can start to develop a true picture of the offender and start gathering relevant information, this can be helpful in two ways, it can help to keep the prisoner in line during the term of sentence as he or she may have freedom or parole in mind, as well as the behaviour exhibited by the inmate over the period of time can be telling. Consistent good behaviour can show rehabilitation and potential success if paroled, while unruly behaviour can show lack of remorse and inability to follow structured rules, which could lead to problems or recidivism if paroled. This method can truly give a clearer picture of the offender, instead of information being gathered just prior to eligibility.

Dependent on the crime no decision shall be made without the victim or family members being able to voice their opinion, whether in person or impact statement. Every victim or family member shall be notified of hearings, and release or refusal of parole, by written notification and by phone. Efforts should be made in this model to have a support system for the victims of crime as well as family of the offender as both sides have suffered some loss and trust. Testifying at the parole hearing or writing a statement, as well as release of the offender can potentially be traumatic to the victims on either side.

Conditions of Release

Parole shall only be granted or considered for offences other than murder, treason and paedophilia. Release of a person in the form of parole, must be conditional, if it is not so the prisoner make return to their old ways or adopt new ones, it can only be considered if the offender has served two-thirds of their original sentence. This would eliminate the need for “good time”, since there is early release. The decision to release, shall be determined by the parole board, which usually consists of 7-12 board members, all board members will listen to all the cases up for review, and will only make a decision after all evidence, victim impact statement and all other relevant document, which have been prepared by the caseworker or parole officer has been seen . A period of three weeks to a month’s time will be the consideration time for rendering any decision.

Upon the granting of parole, there may be several conditions, which must be adhered to in order to maintain freedom. These conditions maybe specific to the offender as well as general according to the laws of parole. Conditions may include restrictions to travel, obtaining and maintaining steady employment, disassociation with old criminal friendships and environment, rehabilitation programmes or skills training where required. All persons placed on parole should report to their parole officer, regardless to offence and sentencing, twice a week in the first six months of release, unless gainfully employed then reporting shall be once per week. They will be subjected to random visits at their place of residents and work unannounced, random drug test can be administered at the time, for those parolees who has had that in their background. Where there are halfway houses available, they shall be made as residential homes should the offenders’ family refuse to take them into the family home, because of the stigma of criminality label. Or where the environment has not change and may lead to recidivism. The housing shall be temporary for a period of 6-12 months, but must be seen to be seeking employment or enrolled in training programs which would lead to qualifications and skills towards employment. The parole board is also mindful of the label of criminal make see a lack of employment opportunities. , “A survey of 3,000 employers of four metropolitan areas revealed that two-thirds will not knowingly hire an ex prisoner.”(Kachnowski, 2005), and those parolees shall also be allowed temporary housing and training programs.

This is where the idea of community service in the form of talks and voluntary service may lessen the stigma as the community can see the change. Before release all parolees should receive medical as well as psychological examinations to ensure they are of sound minds and are not releasing a person with mental and or physical diseases back into the community. Assessments will assure any help needed can be provided before release or if release is denied. The idea of a method of parole known as compassionate parole. This is the release of parolees, it constitutes reducing the term of imprisonment of an inmate, some of the criteria for consideration are terminal illness, where the inmate has been given less than (12-18months) or less to live. Another would be a Debilitated Medical Condition, such as complete Disability, Alzheimer’s, Brain Disease or Injury as well as Elderly Inmates (70yrs and over), suffering from illnesses associated with aging and having served half of their sentence.(US Department of Justice).

Parolees would have to report any termination of employment or acceptance of employment to their parole officer within twenty-four hours of either occurrence. There is to be no travel outside of the city or borough of residence, electronic monitoring will be fitted to all parolees with supervision periods of three to five years.

Length of Supervision

Supervision after release is absolutely essential; this is done to keep the parolees in check and ensure that the conditions of parole are followed to the letter. At any one time there may be several persons on parole at the same time, and there must be mandatory supervision over specific lengths of time. A supervision period of one year shall be the minimum period for parolees who were

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