A National Survey of Parole Decision-making

Abstract

A survey was conducted of all agencies in the United States having parole jurisdiction over felony offenders sentenced to a correctional institution for more than one year. The results of the survey yielded information on organizational trends, per sonnel development, and procedures employed at parole release and revocation hearings. Parole boards were found to be moving away from their role as autonomous decision-makers and instead are developing an expanded function as part of larger depart ments of correction. Parole board members are now, to a greater degree than a few years ago, full-time personnel serving longer terms of office-perhaps an indication of a trend toward in creased professionalism. Procedures at parole release hearings have not changed much in recent years, except for the manner of informing the inmate of the board's decision. On the other hand, procedures at revocation hearings have shown an increas ing tendency to accord to the offender the right to a number of due process safeguards, a trend that was clear even before the requirements set forth in the recent Supreme Court decision in Morrissey v. Brewer.