17: Advising the Releasing Authority
Inform the releasing authority about the extent to which the prisoner is prepared to return to the community (and the community is prepared to receive the individual).
Overview
A transition planning team, with input from appropriate stakeholders, should gather information concerning the person's progress in his or her programming plan, any risk that he or she would pose to the community, and any strengths he or she could draw on or needs he or she would face if released to the community at that time. The collected information can provide the basis not only for the decisions of the releasing authority but also for the formulation of the steps that should be taken in the days or months before the individual's release.
Research Highlights
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For the majority of prisoners, the timing of release is constrained by a pre-determined mechanism such as mandatory release, and not by a discretionary authority, such as a parole board.
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The absence of the discretion of a releasing authority reduces a person's incentive for good behavior, program participation, and postrelease planning during his or her incarceration.
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Opportunities for victims, family members and the community to influence the release decision (and subsequently conditions of supervision) have declined with the decreased use of discretionary release.
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Validated assessments indicate the specific needs and services required for an individual to increase the odds of a successful return to the community from prison or jail.
Recommendations
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Convene a transition planning team to review the inmate's progress in the implementation of the programming plan and collect other information to advise the releasing authority and initiate the transition planning process.
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Use a validated risk-assessment instrument and a comprehensive analysis of a person's criminal history and behavior in the institution to predict the risk he or she would present to the community if and when released.
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Consider information related to the individual's strengths and service needs insofar as these issues affect public safety and/or the establishment of terms and conditions of release.
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Notify victims when the releasing authority is considering release of an offender and invite victims to provide input into the release decision and the terms and conditions of release.
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Gauge the willingness and capacity of family members to receive the person upon his or her release and ensure that they receive an opportunity to provide input into the terms of release.
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Capitalize on the familiarity of local leaders, including law enforcement, with the needs of their community to develop conditions of release that will enable the releasee to make meaningful contributions to the community.
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Gauge willingness and capacity of community-based service providers to receive the person upon his or her release from prison or jail.
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Present to the releasing authority a clear and concise analysis of all information deemed important to determining whether the inmate presents a risk to community safety.
Related Policy Statements
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This publication discusses how policymakers can increase accountability among people who commit crimes, improve rates of child support collection and victim restitution, and make people’s transition from prisons and jails to the community safe and successful.