Fewer Americans Behind Bars, BJS Reports

For the third straight year, fewer Americans were under "correctional supervision"--a catch-all description that includes prisons, jails, probation, and parole--in 2011.

That was the major finding of a U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics report released today.  Read more...

Too Little Compassionate Release in US Federal Prisons?

A joint report by Human Rights Watch and Families Against Mandatory Minimums

This 128-page report is the first comprehensive examination of how compassionate release in the federal system works. Congress authorized compassionate release because it realized that changed circumstances could make continued imprisonment senseless and inhumane, Human Rights Watch and FAMM said. But if the Bureau of Prisons refuses to bring prisoners’ cases to the courts, judges cannot rule on whether release is warranted. Since 1992, the Bureau of Prisons has averaged annually only two dozen motions to the courts for early release, out of a prison population that now exceeds 218,000. Read more...

Prison rehab tied to parole decisions

Parole board decisions can have a huge impact on whether or not prisoners are motivated to rehabilitate, according to a study co-authored by SFU economics professor Steeve Mongrain.

Mongrain and his colleagues argue that parole boards need to consider the length of prisoners’ original sentences as well as their behaviour in prison when granting early parole and determining eligibility for parole review.  Read more...

NIC hosts Parole Board Executives Training

BLENDED LEARNING

Live Interactive Online Training • Classroom-Based Training

 

Parole Board

Executives

A Training Program

 

Course Description

 

NIC continues to recognize the value of orientation for new parole board executives.  This course focuses on the key roles, responsibilities, and challenges facing parole board executives in the 21^st century.  This 40-hour program will equip parole board executives with the knowledge and skills they need to operate a paroling authority using evidence-based practice.  The course emphasizes the critical role of collaboration and partnerships with stakeholders to increase offender success and public safety.   The program uses a peer interaction process.  Mandatory course components include online sessions, face-to-face training and independent assignments.

 

 Criteria for Acceptance into This Training

• Newly hired parole board executives and current executives with less than 5 years of service and who are responsible for leading the paroling authority.  And  executives who have not been exposed to training for parole boards.
• Must be able to complete all pre- and post-training assignments.
• Must be able to attend all three days of the face-to-face trainin gand all WebEx session

Training Date/Time and Location

Two WebEx Session (on-line): TBD

Face-to-Face Session: January 8-10, 2013

Lodging Site

Aurora, CO

 

Application Deadline

November 26, 2013

 

How to Apply

Follow the online application instructions found on the NIC

website at http://nic.learn.com.  Training - #13C4504

 

Lodging, Food, and Travel

NIC will pay for participants’ roundtrip airfare, lodging, and

meals (breakfast and dinner). NIC also provides the training and materials at no cost to participants.

 

For More Information Robbye Braxton

Correctional Program Specialist

202-514-4562

Email: rbraxtonmintz@bop.gov

 

Namibia: Life Sentence Prisoners Want Clarity On Parole

A GROUP of prisoners serving life sentences have lodged a case with the High Court in Windhoek in a bid to get clarity about their prospects of being released on parole.

The 24 long-term inmates of Windhoek Central Prison want the court to indicate to them how many years they have to spend in prison before they will be qualifying to be released on parole.  Read more...