An Analysis of Parole Decision Making Using a Sample of Sex Offenders: A Focal Concerns Perspective

Abstract

We use data from pre‐sentence investigations and official parole board records to study the correlates of parole release among a sample of men incarcerated for sexual offenses. Cox proportional hazard models are used to estimate change in the likelihood of parole over time, and the focal concerns theory provides the theoretical framework for the analyses. The findings suggest a complex interplay of legal and extralegal factors in understanding parole release decisions. Parole officials weigh heavily offense seriousness, institutional misconduct, and parole readiness scores in making release decisions. In addition, study results reveal that victim and offender age is a salient factor in determining parole judgments. Overall, the current analysis provides a baseline for future research on parole decision making in general, and sexual offenders, in particular.

Applying DEMATEL to Investigate the Relationship Between Factors Affecting Parole Boards’ Decision-Making in Taiwan

“…Also, the results are consistent with those of Huebner and Bynum's (2006) study, which indicated that the parole board members emphasize crime characteristics and criminal history during the parole decision process. However, in Lindsey and Miller's (2011) study, the parole board members considered the execution of corrections and evidence of adjustment in prison (e.g., program participation and violent behavior in prison) as the top factors for denying parole, which differs from the findings of this study.…”

Mental Illness, Criminal Risk Factors and Parole Release Decisions

“…Based upon prior research examining parole release decisions (e.g., Feder, 1994;Morgan & Smith, 2005), the current study controlled for the influence of current offense characteristics, length of incarceration, age, race, and gender. Although age (Huebner & Bynum, 2006), length of incarceration (Carroll et al, 1982;TurpinPetrosino, 1999), gender (Hannah-Moffat, 2004, and race (Petersilia, 1985) of inmates have been found to influence release decision, their associations with release decisions in this study were negligible. As most of the research that prompted inclusion of these variables in the current study was conducted several years ago, it could be that training of parole board members on empirically based risk factors has reduced the influence of offender demographics, as well as MI, in parole release decisions.…”

Elucidating the Factors that Influence Parole Decision-Making and Violent Offenders’ Performance on Parole

“…Therefore, the board's primary considerations appeared to be post-sentencing variables, although the VRS clearly assesses historical factors as well as the presence of dynamic risk factors. This latter finding is somewhat inconsistent with previous research which illustrates that characteristics such as age (Huebner & Bynum, 2006), criminal history, and the nature and/or severity of an offender's index offence are significant considerations in the parole decision (Morgan & Smith, 2005). The consideration of an offender's level of risk for future violence, as measured by the VRS, is consistent with previous research findings indicating that the level of risk an offender poses to the community is a primary consideration in the parole decision-making process (Gobeil & Serin, 2010;Hood & Shute, 2000;Meyer, 2001).…”

“…Studies investigating the parole decision-making process have provided varied results in terms of the factors considered and the relative weights attributed to each factor by parole board members. The factors that consistently emerge in studies of parole decision-making are: offender characteristics (e.g., age and ethnicity; Bonham, et al, 1986;Huebner & Bynum, 2006), criminal history and offence-related variables (Bonham et al, 1986;Huebner & Bynum, 2006;Morgan & Smith, 2005;Scott, 1974), participation in treatment programs and institutional misconduct (Carroll, Weiner, Coates, Galegher, & Alibrio, 1982;Conley & Zimmerman, 1982;Scott, 1974;West-Smith, Pogrebin, & Poole, 2000), variables related to an offender's release plan (e.g., employment and accommodation; Bonham et al 1986;Hood & Shute, 2000), recommendations from corrections staff (Morgan & Smith, 2005;Proctor, 1999), and an assessment of an offender's risk of recidivism (Bonham et al 1986;Hood & Shute, 2000;Proctor, 1999). In the 2007 APAI survey, participating parole authorities were asked to rank a series of factors depending on their impact on release decisions (Kinnevy & Caplan, 2008).…”