Parole Condition Setting in Connecticut - A REPORT IN A SERIES ON ALIGNING SUPERVISION

If a victim understands that the person was sentenced and that something has happened between the time that that person was incar- cerated, and now when they are in front of the board, they have the ability to reflect on “Are they doing anything to rehabilitate themselves?” – Parole Board Member Purpose of Parole Conditions When asked about the purpose of parole conditions, many of the interviewee. [...] The purpose of the conditions and the goals of the conditions is to help people reintegrate back into the community and become law-abiding citizens who are able to function in a way that doesn’t include criminogenic behavior and create continuation of victimization of the communities to which they’re returning. [...] A parole officer said that the purpose of conditions “is to give the field parole officer a framework of what the board of parole feels that the person needs to do or accomplish while they are on parole.” Similarly, a parole board staff member said, “parole conditions provide the basis or guidance for what the parole officers should be doing or focusing on or looking at.” This individual also said. [...] The most important conditions for the parole officers included the release direction and the requirement to obey all laws, which are listed as the first two conditions on the standard conditions form. [...] This same parole officer interviewed did not see having to go back to the board as a problem because they felt “usually…nine out of the ten conditions are set appropriately.” However, another parole officer said it was hard to get the board to add conditions because of the time it takes from the board.