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The parole guessing game: An analysis of parole decision-making in Nebraska
Abstract
Parole involves the discretionary release of offenders from incarceration prior to the expiration of their sentence. Parole boards in some states rely upon parole guidelines, while others, like Nebraska, use the case analysis approach whereby individual cases are decided according to a variety of factors. This study sought to determine if parole decisions in Nebraska were the result of decision-making processes influenced by a variety of factors or rather an automatic function based only upon eligibility. Additionally, this study attempted to identify the primary decision point in the parole process. Nebraska's parole process is comprised of two stages; the offender board reviews and the parole hearings. Therefore, two samples of approximately 460 offenders from each stage were used. Offenders were measured on 24 independent variables: six demographic variables, five criminal history variables, eight institutional variables, and five miscellaneous variables. Two dependent variables were used; the decision to schedule the offender for a parole hearing at the board review and the decision to parole the offender at the parole hearing. Results indicate that the Durkheimian model of parole decision-making was not supported at the board reviews but was supported at the parole hearings. At the board reviews, decisions were based upon several criminal history factors: severity of offense, prior incarcerations, sentences, and previous parole status. The offender's education level and the staff recommendation were also significantly related to the board's decision. The odds of being scheduled for a parole hearing increased most significantly for those who had a positive staff recommendation and had previously been on parole. At the parole hearings, decisions were primarily influenced by institutional variables: recent misconduct reports, recent segregation time, and custody level. The offender's sex, severity of offense, staff recommendation, and public opposition were also significantly related to the board's decisions. A positive staff recommendation and the absence of public opposition at the parole hearing were the most influential factors that increased the odds of being paroled.
Subject Area
Criminology|Public administration
Recommended Citation
Proctor, Jon L, "The parole guessing game: An analysis of parole decision-making in Nebraska" (1995). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9609434.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9609434