Giving Compass' Take:

• Edward E. Rhine, Joan Petersilia, and Kevin R. Reitz provide policy recommendations for improving parole release. 

• What are the current parole release policies in your area? How can funders work to improve parole release policies? 

• Learn about opportunities for philanthropists to make an impact on criminal justice reform. 

Institutional Structure:

The institutional structure and composition of parole boards should be reconstituted to ensure members possess the requisite education, expertise, and independence relative to release decision making. In pursuing these goals in the American context, such a system would include the following features, or others equally effective: (a) Parole Board members should be recommended for appointment by a special nonpartisan panel subject to gubernatorial approval; (b) Their terms of appointment should be defined by law, with conditions for removal governed by a protocol administered by the special panel.

How Much Release Discretion?

The amount of prison-length discretion given releasing authorities should not eclipse the sentencing discretion of courts, and for most cases should not exceed 25 to 33 percent of the maximum term. For extremely long sentences, release eligibility should occur no later than 15 years. The relative amounts of discretion held by sentencing courts and releasing agencies should reflect the different goals and considerations operative at judicial sentencing and the prison-release stage.

Grounds for Release Decisions

There should be a meaningful presumption of release at first eligibility, so that the majority of prisoners are released at that time. Parole boards should not be authorized to deny release on the ground that the prisoner has not served sufficient time for punishment purposes. Denial of release should be based on credible assessments of risk of serious criminal conduct and readiness for reentry.

Read the full article about improving parole release by Edward E. Rhine, Joan Petersilia, and Kevin R. Reitz at Robina Institute.