Positive And Negative Effects Of Parole

The negative views on parole generally stem from societies acknowledged opinions developed from the influence of media. Their conceptions and views are vastly influence by the media, which is generally occupied by cases where an individual is released on parole and has re-offended (Bartels, 2013; Sparks, 2001). Due to the media’s influence the notion of parole having effect on the re-offending rate is widely debated. It’s a concept that is highly circumstantial and the outcome is dependent on a vast range of factors, not just the parole program. Jones, Hua, Donnelly, McHutchinson and Heggie (2006) conducted a study that explored the patterns and trends of re-offending among 2,793 offenders whom were placed on parole between 2001 and 2002. Their …show more content…
The rates of re-offending is one of the factors that is being perceived as a negative in relation to the utilisation of the parole program. Another factor of parole that has been criticised is within the parole board hearings and their lack of due process that is involved. Simpson (1999) provides examples such as insufficient notice of hearings, failure to offer any acceptable reasons for the decisions made and prisoners being unable to attend or be represented at hearings, as to why the lack of due process is considered a negative factor of the parole program. Due process within Australia is an important feature of the criminal justice system, to deny it within parole hearings raises ethical questions in the process and their discretion (Silverstein, 2005). Although both the positive and negative factors discussed may alter the effectiveness of parole, neither factors will appear in every case, therefore discretion is the ultimate factor to ensure parole is not over or under utilised in …show more content…
The use of the parole board is the factor that grants the largest chance of the parole system remaining balanced and correctly utilised for the safety of society and the rehabilitation of the offender. The parole system will neither be over or underutilised, if the discretion and decisions of the parole board are continuously reviewed and the program remains in use. Each case will be different, each offender will react or act differently and it will always be difficult to determine whether an offender will offend. Parole is an important feature of the criminal justice system, the aim of rehabilitation and reintegration is a continual focus of the parole board’s discretion and therefore there is and will remain a correct balance of utilisation of parole within Australia due to these