How Much Punishment is Enough? Designing Participatory Research on Parole Policies for Persons Convicted of Violent Crimes

Abstract

In New York State, the parole process has been brought to the forefront of social justice discourse as policy makers, researchers, and formerly incarcerated persons grapple with ways to improve the criminal justice system. Since 1995, there has been an “unofficial” practice of denying parole to people convicted of violent felonies, based primarily on the nature of the original crime, without consideration for transformation behind prison walls. By analyzing quantitative data from the New York Department of Corrections, and qualitative data from interviews with 34 participants, this study examines return rates for people convicted of violent crimes. The study also investigates whether multiple parole denials and extremely long sentences affect postrelease commitments (and thereby public safety) as well as the ways participants begin, narrate, and sustain (postrelease) personal transformation, remorse, and social responsibility. This article focuses on the participatory research design, a preliminary look at the findings, and a reflection on our attempts at policy impact.