Essay Sample on Release Mechanisms

Introduction

The sentencing of imprisonment has three phases which include sentencing, implementation then release. Most of the sentencing systems adopt a principle whose intention is to shape the kind of sentences that they impose. Systems dealing with criminal justice systems ensure that at some point, an inmate is eligible for release from prison which is in line with the policies. There are several release mechanisms that the system adopts for different inmates. The mechanisms tend to be effective for the concerned individuals and best serve the interest of the inmate and the society at large.

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One common mechanism is the mandatory release. It is the required release of the inmate from the status of incarceration to supervision by the community. It is performed upon expiration of a specific period as it is by the determinate-sentencing law or the guidelines on parole. Specifications for this model is that there is no release until the warrant expires. The mechanism is automatic after a stipulated fraction of the sentence served by the inmate. The policies state that when an inmate has served their full sentence, they can get released to join the rest (Petersilia, & Threatt, 2017). Thus, the community supervises the activities of the individual making sure that they change their bad ways completely. It is known as the mandatory release because it is a must guarantee.

Parole is also a release mechanism and it is the only option for the offender if they want an early release from custody. Parole varies according to the length of sentence prescribed and the offence type. A court can grant a parole if the sentence is three years or less and if the offence that the inmate committed was not a serious violence offence. However, they may not be allowed to grant parole if the person subject to the order poses a serious risk of harm to another individual or if there is a risk of committing another crime. In this case, the court needs to decide according to the case brought forward and suggest whether to offer parole or not.

Court-ordered parole is important as it helps the judicial officers enjoy discretion as the imposed sentences get tailored to obtain the particular facts of the case and more information about the individual. Through parole, the officers can gather more information to decide the suitability of the correct action to the individual (Krisberg, 2018). If this kind of parole is abolished, there will be the loss of a valuable sentencing option necessary for the promotion of the interests of the individualized. It will also lead to an increase in prison populations while there is a need to address the over-presentation of prisoners at low risk and short sentences.

Expiration release also serves as a form of release of an inmate, a mechanism that needs to follow the policies and procedures of the court. It is the release of an inmate without any further correctional supervision maybe from the community as it is in the mandatory release. There is no possibility that the inmate will return to prison for another portion of the sentence for the offence they are paying for at the moment. This type of release follows the condition for release as it is only after the inmate has served the jail term. The individual is now regarded as a citizen since they have received full rehabilitation for their mistakes.

References

Krisberg, B. A., Marchionna, S., & Hartney, C. J. (2018). American corrections: Concepts and controversies. Sage Publications.

Petersilia, J., & Threatt, J. (2017). Release from Prison. The Encyclopedia of Corrections, 1-9.