ABSTRACT
Parole, birthed by the rehabilitative ideal, is a correctional strategy that grants early release to an inmate prior to the expiration of the prison term. Historically, the emergence of parole is associated with the emphasis on rehabilitation and the development of the indeterminate sentence. Under this sentencing structure, the sentencing judge imposes a minimum and maximum sentence, leaving it up to the parole board to determine the actual length of the sentence. The historical development of parole can be traced to the transportation programs to America and Australia. In the early seventeenth century, Great Britain experienced high unemployment rates, an increase in crime rates, and prison overcrowding. Parole boards are composed of members who are politically appointed or selected based on a state's selection criteria. Victims potentially may have an effect on the severity of punishment at two points in the judicial process: sentencing and parole release hearings.
