In July 2015, President Barack Obama became the first president to visit a federal prison
while in office.
His visit was in part spurred by a desire to see major reforms in the US prison system,
including shorter prison terms, and more use of parole.
So what is parole?
How does it currently work in America?
Well, parole is the intermediary phase between a convict’s time in prison, and their release
into the general public.
While on parole, an ex-con is allowed to live on the outside, but they must avoid any further
trouble with the law, and establish regular contact with a supervising “parole officer”.
Parole is the same thing as probation, except probation happens BEFORE, or instead of a
prison sentence, while parole is AFTER a prisoner serves time.
Parole serves two major functions.
First, for the ex-con, it’s a support system that helps them acclimate to society, and
find a job or housing situation.
The second function serves to reduce the cost of keeping so many prisoners locked up by
releasing low-risk convicts early.
President Obama has been a huge proponent of cutting federal expenses this way, citing
overcrowding in prisons, and the high number of inmates serving time for nonviolent crimes.
So when can a convict go on parole?
Well, parole eligibility is determined during the original sentencing.
People who are convicted of murder, or other serious crimes will often be denied the possibility
of parole.
Inmates who qualify, however, can get “credit” for good behavior in prison, and released
to serve the rest of their sentence under supervision.
Until the 1980s, most states had parole boards to screen convicts, and determine if they
were eligible for parole.
This was called “discretionary parole”, because it was at the discretion of parole
officers.
However, this method has fallen from use in many states, due to pressure from overcrowded
prisons and other conflicts of interest.
Discretionary parole could result in unregulated and unfair early releases, or denials of parole.
By 2000, 16 states abolished the use of parole boards for all offenders, and instead use
“mandatory parole”, which automatically qualifies prisoners for parole based on their
original sentencing, and good behavior.
Once freed, a parolee must stay within state bounds, and can’t possess firearms or ammunition.
They are regularly drug tested, and any minor infraction, even one that doesn’t result
in a criminal charge, can be enough to send them back to jail.
But does the parole system actually work?
Well, according to a 2005 study by the Urban Institute, just two years after an average
prisoner’s release on parole, more than half found themselves back in jail.
The head researcher concluded that the parole system had “failed” to keep ex-cons from
returning to crime.
Part of the reason was attributed to parole officers being overburdened by heavy caseloads.
Each officer is tasked with as many as 70 parolees, and 15 minute meetings once or twice
a month.
This is not enough supervision and attention for those who need significant help re-acclimating
to society.
Although President Obama has made it clear that the prison system needs reform, releasing
more prisoners on parole may not work unless their support system is strengthened.
Ex-cons often have significant need for work-programs, mental health care, and other social development
programs, in order to avoid falling back into the criminal lifestyle.
With America hosting roughly a quarter of the world’s prison population, the for-profit
prison industry is booming.
For most, that’s not good news.
To learn more about the problem with for profit prisons, check out this video.
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