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. Unlike judicial processes, which are open to the public, there is little awareness of and research on the work of parole authorities. This book therefore shines a light on a little-understood, but hotly-contested, aspect of the criminal justice system. Specifically, it explores differences across the study jurisdictions and considers how parole authorities in the four study countries view public attitudes, as well as the role of the media in shaping public attitudes towards parole. The book also considers whether public reaction matters for parole board decision-making and the interplay between informing the public and offender reintegration. It explores a range of strategies which may improve public confidence in parole and therefore the criminal justice system more broadly. This includes consideration of the value, definition and possibility of public confidence. The authors then discuss both passive forms, such as parole authority websites, publication of decisions and social media, before examining active forms of engagement, including an information/liaison officer, roadshows and community fora.
Author(s): Robin Fitzgerald, Arie Freiberg, Shannon Dodd, Lorana Bartels
Series: Palgrave Socio-Legal Studies
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 108
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
List of Tables
1 Parole: An Uncertain Institution
Introduction: Parole Populism in Perilous Times
Public Confidence, Parole, and the Public
A Short History of Parole: From Rehabilitation to Risk
Public Attitudes Towards Parole
Do Public Attitudes Matter to Parole Authorities?
The Current Study
References
2 The Practicalities of Parole Board Decision-Making
Boards and Structures
Membership
Jurisdiction
The Nature of Parole Board Decision-Making
Workload
Participant Views on Board Structures and Decision-Making
The Value of Diverse Board Composition
On the Papers Versus Face-To-Face: Boards’ Engagement with the Offender
The Benefits of Structured Decision-Making
Views on Legal Factors Affecting Decision-Making
The Offence, Criminal History, and the ‘Harm Factor’
Time Inside and the Value of ‘Change’
Release, Support, and Conditions: ‘The Viability of the Plan’
Community Safety: The Paramount Consideration
Balancing Risk and Scrutiny in Decision-Making
Grappling with Risk Assessment and Tools
Views on Extra-Legal Factors Affecting Decision-Making
Balancing Emotions and Professional Judgement
The Volume of Work and Information Flow
Conclusion
References
3 Public Opinion and Parole Board Decision-Making
What Do We Know About the Impact of Perceived Public Opinion on Parole Decision-Making?
How Do Parole Authorities View Public Attitudes?
‘The Poorly Informed and Arguably Rabid Public’
Parole Is Uniquely Challenging for Members of the Public to Understand
Parole Boards Are ‘Easily Blamed’
Public Emotion
Controlling the Story: The Role of the Media in Shaping Public Attitudes
Does Public Reaction Matter for Parole Board Decision-Making?
The Relevance of Public Opinion to Parole Decision-Making
The Direction of Influence: Communicating Decisions Back to the Public
‘Could We Be Reviewed?’
The Interplay Between Informing the Public and Offender Reintegration
Conclusion
References
4 Parole Boards, Public Confidence, and the Public
The Importance of Public Confidence
Perspectives on Building Public Confidence
Strategies for Building Public Confidence
Websites
Public Hearings and Publication of Parole Board Determinations
Communications/Liaison Officers
‘Roadshows’, Talks, and Stakeholder Engagement
Forums/Deliberative Community Events
Social Media: The Future of Public Interaction?
‘Edutainment’ Media: Podcasts, Interactive Media, and Documentaries
Conclusion
References
5 Engaging with an Emotional Public in a Precarious Time
Observations
Concluding Comments: The Way Forward
References
Index
