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Freedom of Licence - The Development of Parole and Proposals For Reform

NCJ Number
87430
Date Published
1981
Length
93 pages
Annotation
This volume examines the British system of parole, evaluates its current flaws, and assesses reform possibilities that would restrict the scope of discretionary parole.
Abstract
It advocates instituting a judicial procedure for planned release on license at the time of sentencing, whereby the existing anomalies between the judiciary and the parole board would be eliminated and denied parole case would be justified by a statement of reasons and entitled to appeal. The argument is developed through a review of the system's origns parliamentary debates on the controversial issues involved, current parole system operations, and the principal critiques against it from various sectors, including both inmates and the public. The American experiences with parole are reviewed in comparison. In conclusion, various reform alternatives are outlined, but a fundamental reform (i.e., the return from executive to judicial decisionmaking procedures) is urged. Footnotes and 16 references are given.