This book explores key issues in relation to parole and public opinion,
including the relevance of public opinion to parole boards
decision-making and strategies for increasing public confidence in
parole. It presents the findings of semi-structured interviews with 80
members of parole authorities in 12 jurisdictions, across Australia, New
Zealand, Canada and Scotland. Unlike judicial processes, which are open
to the public, there is little awareness of and research on the work of
parole authorities. This book therefore shines a light on a
little-understood, but hotly-contested, aspect of the criminal justice
system. Specifically, it explores differences across the study
jurisdictions and considers how parole authorities in the four study
countries view public attitudes, as well as the role of the media in
shaping public attitudes towards parole. The book also considers whether
public reaction matters for parole board decision-making and the
interplay between informing the public and offender reintegration. It
explores a range of strategies which may improve public confidence in
parole and therefore the criminal justice system more broadly. This
includes consideration of the value, definition and possibility of
public confidence. The authors then discuss both passive forms, such as
parole authority websites, publication of decisions and social media,
before examining active forms of engagement, including an
information/liaison officer, roadshows and community fora.