Problems with Parole

Jake Hyatt
113467998
Sec. 0202
November 16, 2015
 One aspect of the Criminal Justice system that I feel is bias and is in need of

reform is the Parole system. The system is very bias because each state has different

boards that are assigned to decide if a prisoner can get let out of prison early and get put

on parole. According to the textbook, Criminal Justice in America, parole is the

conditional release of an offender from incarceration but not from the legal custody of the

state (Cole, Smith, & DeJong, 2014, p. 430). I think this idea is excellent in giving

deserving prisoner the right to leave prison early and under supervision allows them to

start their lives outside of prison. The problem with this system is there arent enough

parole officers and most released prisoners find their way back into prison within 5 years.

First, I will generally discuss the current structure of the parole system, as it is

different in every state. New York started the parole system in the United States in 1876

and by 1932, 44 states and the federal government adopted the parole system. Now every

state has some sort of process that can release offenders before the end of their sentence

(Cole, Smith, & DeJong, 2014, p.431). The goal of the parole system is to get deserving

prisoners out of prison while at the same time attempting to lower the prisons

population. Each state has some sort of board set up that has hearings with the prisoners.

Based on these hearing the board gets together and decides whether or not this prisoner

deserves to get released on parole or should stay in prison.

I think this system is bias because it is these groups of people that hold the power

in this system and get to decide if they think a certain prisoner should be let out. I feel as

this automatically will cause bias and thus supported in an article called Racial Bias in

the Decision to Grant Parole which states, Black parolees who were treatment
participants served a significantly longer portion of their sentence than did white

treatment participants (Carroll and Mondrick, 1976). In my opinion the U.S. need to

find a way so that the boards are focused on not being racially biased and giving every

prisoner and equal chance to get on parole.

The United States is trying to lessen the bias of this system by focusing on

technology. The Federal government is pushing towards using programs on computers to

predict if someone will recommit a crime instead of personal judgment. Using a

computer automatically strips any kind of personal bias or judgment that someone may

be inclined to make. According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, The board

reached its decision using a computer software program called Compas, one of several

designed to predict whether individual convicts will return to prison (Walker, 2013).

The current trend, due to budged cuts, is to utilize these systems like Compas. These

programs show success because in the same article Walker states that there was a drop of

1% of the total prison population and these systems have a major affect on this number.

In conclusion, I feel as though parole is an excellent idea that could be successful.

I think as of right now the system is set up to be exceptionally bias and it is hard to avoid

as long as there is a board in charge. I like the idea of moving more towards statistics and

patterns to decide if the prisoner in question is then going to recommit a crime.

 Works Cited

Carroll, L., & Mondrick, M. (1976). Racial Bias in the Decision to Grant Parole.

Retrieved November 17, 2015, from

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/271690377_Racial_Bias_in_the_Decisio

n_to_Grant_Parole

Cole, G., Smith, C., & DeJong, C. (2014). Policing: Contemporary Issues and

Challenges. In Criminal Justice in America (8th ed., pp. 151-152). Cengage

Learning.

Dickson, C. (2014, April 22). Americas Recidivism Nightmare. Retrieved November 17,

2015, from http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/22/america-s-

recidivism-nightmare.html

Walker, J. (2013, October 11). State Parole Boards Use Software to Decide Which

Inmates to Release. Retrieved November 17, 2015, from

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1000142405270230462610457912125159524085