How Fair and Predictable is the Parole System in Your State?
Advocates increase pressure on states to ensure consistency and fairness in parole process
While the criminal justice processes pre-incarceration get the most attention when it comes to scrutiny and reform, the processes regarding parole receive significantly less attention and are largely ignored. As a result, state-by-state parole systems vary so much that it is almost impossible to compare them.
Parole systems should give every incarcerated person ample opportunity to earn release and have a fair, transparent process for deciding whether to grant it. A growing number of advocacy organizations and criminal justice academics have called for states to adopt policies that would ensure consistency and fairness in how they identify who should receive parole, when those individuals should be reviewed and released, and what parole conditions should be attached to those individuals.
According to a recent report from Prison Policy Initiative, most states show significant need to improve their parole processes and ensure fairness and consistency throughout the process. You can read this report, "Grading the Parole Release System of All 50 States" at Prison Policy Initiative's website.
