The foremost goal of parole is to enhance public safety. Most offenders will eventually be released from prison. Incarceration takes scare public funds away from critical state programs like education, and road and bridge repair. Proponents of parole urge we must be sure we do not waste scarce funds incarcerating people who are no longer likely to commit a crime.

 

     When the Parole Board considers an individual for parole, the Board examines a report reflecting the offender’s day-to-day acts in prison. Does he fight or commit other violent acts or cooperate with guards and case managers? Has he participated in drug treatment, educational, or job-training programs, maintained a prison job and followed prison rules? This information is highly indicative of whether an offender has altered his behavior in a meaningful way.

 

    Studies show offenders who walk out of prison without supervision are more likely to reoffend. The reasons are obvious. Offenders often have no home, no financial support, no transportation, and difficulty finding work on the street. They likely do not have a current drivers license and have lost social security papers necessary to obtain a job. They may be mentally ill or need drug counseling, but who will help them locate and travel to these community services? Through parole, offenders are assisted with finding ways to fulfill these basic needs.

 

     Moreover, in prison, offenders may get time credits for good behavior. On parole, an offender serves his sentence day for day. Parole thus extends the time the state has the offender under supervision, If the offender gets in trouble on parole, he may be brought back into prison almost immediately, and may lose credit for all the time served while on parole.