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Core Competencies: A Resource for Parole Board Chairs, Members, and Executive Staff

New parole board members and parole executives should read this publication. It will introduce them to the core competencies they need to have to effectively execute their public responsibilities. Chapters cover: the broad context of parole work-parole’s function, purpose, and role in the criminal justice system, parole and other state or local entities, and legal and ethical issues; discharging duties effectively-leadership, strategic planning, emerging best practices and evidence-based practices, and collaboration; and individual case decisionmaking-tools that promote consistent outcomes for...

Evidence-Based Policy, Practice, and Decision-Making: Implications for Paroling Authorities

New parole board members and parole executives should read this publication. It “examines information emerging from research on evidence-based practice and decision-making in parole and the implications of these findings for paroling authorities” (p. viii). 

Five chapters comprise this document: 

• evidence-based policy, practice, and decision-making; 
• what it is and why paroling authorities should be interested in it; 
• significant research findings regarding risk reduction-implications for paroling authorities; 
• reaching the full recidivism reduction potential-using a systemwide approach to evidence-based decision-making; 
• evaluating the...

Paroling Authorities’ Strategic Planning and Management for Results

Individuals involved in making sure their parole agency’s goals are being met need to read this paper. It provides guidance for a paroling authority in “defining its vision and mission, assembling information and resources to accomplish its goals, and putting into place appropriate management and performance measurement systems to carry out its objectives and measure its progress” (p. v). Six chapters are contained in this publication: craft your vision and mission statements; assess your organization’s current operating practices; engage key...

Special Challenges Facing Parole

This guide is designed to “lay out the context, summarize the key issues, highlight the recent research, and provide suggestions about where to find more extensive and detailed resources” about special populations parole boards may have contact with (p. xiii). Seven chapters are contained in this publication: sex offenders; offenders who have significant mental health concerns; offenders who have significant substance abuse problems; women offenders; aging or geriatric offenders; youthful/juvenile offenders in the adult correctional system; and the challenges of...

The Future of Parole as a Key Partner in Assuring Public Safety

“This paper provides suggestions and examples about how these key decisionmaking functions of parole [which offenders participate in which programs, when, and for how long] can be shaped to target resources effectively according to the principles of risk, need, and responsivity” (p. viii). Sections of this publication include: introduction; historical context; the cusp of change; parole at the crossroads; resources to support parole’s new role; targets of excellence in paroling authority decisionmaking; specific steps paroling authorities can take to enhance...

Analysis of the Use of the Structured Decision-Making Framework in Three States

"In recent years, interest in high-quality parole decision-making has grown significantly. Paroling authorities are under considerable pressure and subject to substantial public scrutiny as they strive to reach high-quality parole decisions that ensure public safety. In this context, the Legal Decision-Making Lab at Carleton University has been working for nearly a decade to develop and improve a decision-making tool for parole practitioners. This tool, the Structured Decision-making Framework, acts as a road map or guideline for professional decisionmakers to help...

Pretrial Release and Probation: What is the Same and What is Different?

According to those who study evidence-based teaching methods, comparing and contrasting two different objects, persons, or even fields and disciplines, such as pretrial release and probation, can have one of the greatest effects on learning. Indeed, comparing and contrasting is considered to be one of the earliest ways that we humans begin learning (going back to how we identify things in early childhood) and makes the best use of elements necessary for all effective learning methods, each of which allows...

Dosage Probation: A Prescription Based on Two Pilot Sites' Experiences

The dosage probation model suggests that the length of supervision should be determined by the number of hours of intervention necessary to reduce risk as opposed to a standard probation term, such as 3, 4, 5, etc., years. Dosage probation is designed to incentivize behavior change by providing an opportunity for the individual under supervision to receive early termination from probation if they successfully engage in risk reduction interventions tailored to their criminogenic needs, in a “dose” matched to their...