Parole on Probation: Parole Decision-Making, Public Opinion and Public Confidence

This book explores key issues in relation to parole and public opinion, including the relevance of public opinion to parole boards decision-making and strategies for increasing public confidence in parole. It presents the findings of semi-structured interviews with 80 members of parole authorities in 12 jurisdictions, across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Scotland.

Format: Hardback
Length: 103 pages
Publication date: 04 December 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This comprehensive book delves into crucial aspects related to parole and public opinion, shedding light on the significance of public sentiment in shaping parole board decisions and strategies to enhance public confidence in the parole system. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 80 members of parole authorities from 12 jurisdictions across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Scotland, the book offers valuable insights into a relatively understudied yet highly contentious facet of the criminal justice system.

Unlike judicial processes, which are generally open to the public, there is limited awareness and research on the work of parole authorities. This book, therefore, serves as a valuable contribution, illuminating a previously overlooked but fiercely debated dimension of the criminal justice landscape. Specifically, it examines disparities across the study jurisdictions and explores how parole authorities in the four study countries perceive public attitudes, as well as the role of the media in shaping public perceptions towards parole.

Furthermore, the book delves into the question of whether public reaction holds sway in parole board decision-making and examines the interplay between informing the public and facilitating offender reintegration. It explores a diverse range of strategies aimed at improving public confidence in parole and, by extension, the criminal justice system as a whole. These strategies encompass considerations of the value, definition, and potential of public confidence, followed by discussions of both passive forms of engagement, such as parole authority websites, decision publication, and social media, and active forms of involvement, including the establishment of an information/liaison officer, roadshows, and community forums.

By undertaking this comprehensive exploration, the book provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics between parole, public opinion, and the broader criminal justice system. It serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of parole and its impact on society.

Weight: 348g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031193842
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023