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OKLAHOMA'S 'DOWN HOME' PAROLE BOARD

NCJ Number
51202
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 54-59
Author(s)
W HART
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A DESCRIPTION OF OKLAHOMA'S PART-TIME PAROLE BOARD IS USED TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE USE OF SUCH PART-TIME BOARDS AND FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL PAROLE BOARDS. MOST STATES ARE MOVING TOWARD FULL-TIME BOARDS.
Abstract
A TYPICAL HEARING OF THE OKLAHOMA BOARD IS DESCRIBED. WHEN THIS PANEL WAS FOUNDED BY LAW IN 1944, MOST STATES HAD PART-TIME PAROLE BOARDS. BY 1966 THERE WERE 25 PART-TIME, 22 FULL-TIME BOARDS, AND 3 BOARDS WITH MIXED MEMBERSHIP. BY 1978 THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION DIRECTORY LISTED ONLY 16 STATES WITH PART-TIME BOARD MEMBERS. SINCE THAT TIME TWO OF THESE STATES HAVE SHIFTED TO FULL-TIME BOARDS AND MAINE HAS ABOLISHED THE PAROLE PROCESS. THE INFORMALITY OF THE OKLAHOMA PROCESS IS EMPHASIZED. DISADVANTAGES OF THIS INFORMALITY ARE POINTED OUT--THE AVAILABILITY OF PAROLE FILES TO THE NEWS MEDIA, THE DECISIONS MADE WITH NO WRITTEN EXPLANATION TO THE PRISONER, THE LACK OF CLEAR-CUT POLICIES. THE INCREASING NUMBER OF CASES COMING UP FOR PAROLE MEANS AN INCREASED WORKLOAD FOR PART-TIME BOARDS. MANY STATES HAVE GONE TO FULL-TIME BOARDS BECAUSE CITIZENS CANNOT DONATE THE TIME REQUIRED. IN OKLAHOMA THE PART-TIME BOARD IS RETAINED BECAUSE OF A FEAR OF BUREAUCRACY. PROFESSIONAL CORRECTIONS REVIEW COMMITTEES AND OTHER REFORMS HAVE ALEADY BEEN STARTED IN OKLAHOMA. THE DEBATE BETWEEN PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME BOARDS IS CALLED A SYMBOL OF RURAL VERSUS URBAN WAYS OF DEALING WITH CRIME. (GLR)