PAROLE SYSTEM

Parole System

Parole System

Introduction

Parole is not a sentence; rather, it is the extension of a prison into the community and under the supervision of the parole authority, which is a branch of the prison system. Prisoners are eligible for parole after they have served a minimum number of years of their sentence as dictated by state statutes and the discretion of the judge. A parole board reviews their crimes, their criminal histories, and their behaviors in prison to decide whether the prisoners can be supervised safely in the community. After serving only a portion of their sentence, prisoners can also be released automatically by the prison administration for respectful behavior, which involves observing prison rules. In a standard formula, prisoners are given 1 day off of the sentence for every day of ethical behavior. The conditions of parole supervision are set by the releasing body and are similar to the mandatory and special conditions of probation supervision.

History of the Creation of Social Agency

The provision of services to victims by social agency (Parole) officers began in the 1970s on the heels of the Victims' Rights Movement, which propelled victims' needs into the public and juridical consciousness and underscored the importance of treating crime victims with compassion and sensitivity at every step in the criminal justice process. In many states, social agency (parole) officers are responsible for providing victims with a copy of the Victims' Bill of Rights, which have been passed throughout the country, and with information about the progress of their case through the court system, as well as the court's expectation regarding their obligation to participate in the proceedings.

In addition, social agency (parole) officers facilitate victim-offender reconciliation, mediation, and dialog programs, which are critical in the achievement of victim healing and offender rehabilitation. Such programs can be therapeutic to both offenders and victims. Social agency (Parole) officers can educate victims about sentencing practices and the nature of parole, which helps them feel more involved in their cases and more informed about outcomes at each stage in the parole process. Finally, parole officers can refer victims for services to treat their emotional injuries and, adjust more effectively in the aftermath of serious criminal victimization.

Mission statement of the social agency

Social Agency Services is dedicated to enhancing public safety, "remediating" the behavior of criminal offenders to acceptable community standards, protecting the interests of the victims of crime and sustaining a secure environment for all people in the State of West Virginia through active supervision techniques and the effective use of evidence-based, re-entry programming and treatment practices.

Summary of their Work

In the preparation, of "presentence" investigation reports, which help judges determine whether social agencies officers are an appropriate sentence, pay role officers include a section that describes the impact of the crime on the victim and the victim's family. Similarly, at parole-board hearings, victims and their family members can testify regarding the impact of the crime on their lives. In the former, the victim impact statement can influence the judge to choose prison over ...