CASE STUDY PAPER: PAROLE RELEASE DECISION EXERCISE ASSIGNMENT
INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
Through this assignment you will explore issues related to the reentry of a particular case. These
issues will include eligibility for parole and the Parole Board Hearing considerations. You will
also consider the needs of the offender upon release and examine the preparations needed for re-
entry. Various systems are used to make release decisions about incarcerated offenders. In states
in which sentences are indeterminate, a paroling authority often must make a decision to release
an offender and decide when that release should occur. Sentencing laws might determine when
an offender is eligible for release, but he or she is not granted a release until a parole authority
approves. In the cases you will choose from below, a paroling authority must determine whether
to release an offender to a community. Factors considered often involve probability of
recidivism, victim impact, community impact, conduct of offender in an institution, and release
plan offered.
INSTRUCTIONS
Choose Case Study 3.A, 3.B, or 3.C. Consider the case you choose and make recommendations
as to whether the offender’s release should be granted.
Submit your case study in a Microsoft Word document and follow these instructions:
1. Organize the case study using current APA formatting. Begin with a title page. Be sure to
include appropriate headings, paragraph structure, and logically connected sentences.
2. Follow with an introduction. Identify the case you selected, and summarize the key facts
of the case.
3. Apply what you have learned from the textbook reading, to this case study. Determine
whether the offender’s release has merit.
4. Include a reference page, and support your assertions with evidence from at least 3–5
references. Be sure to cite the references in-text, using current APA formatting. The
body of your paper must be 5–7 pages.
5. Discuss a biblical worldview as it relates to the case study, and integrate biblical
references to support your discussion.
6. Conclude the case study with a substantive summary of key points.
Case 3.A
Joseph, age 28, is serving up to 20 years for 2 counts of armed robbery. He has already served
the mandatory minimum of 5 years and is being considered for release for the first time. Joseph
served a previous sentence for burglary and successfully completed a release period before he
committed the current crimes. The victims in both robberies were elderly gas station attendants,
and very small amounts of money were obtained from the robberies. The victims remain fearful
of the offender, and both indicate that their lives were significantly affected by the experience.
INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
Through this assignment you will explore issues related to the reentry of a particular case. These
issues will include eligibility for parole and the Parole Board Hearing considerations. You will
also consider the needs of the offender upon release and examine the preparations needed for re-
entry. Various systems are used to make release decisions about incarcerated offenders. In states
in which sentences are indeterminate, a paroling authority often must make a decision to release
an offender and decide when that release should occur. Sentencing laws might determine when
an offender is eligible for release, but he or she is not granted a release until a parole authority
approves. In the cases you will choose from below, a paroling authority must determine whether
to release an offender to a community. Factors considered often involve probability of
recidivism, victim impact, community impact, conduct of offender in an institution, and release
plan offered.
INSTRUCTIONS
Choose Case Study 3.A, 3.B, or 3.C. Consider the case you choose and make recommendations
as to whether the offender’s release should be granted.
Submit your case study in a Microsoft Word document and follow these instructions:
1. Organize the case study using current APA formatting. Begin with a title page. Be sure to
include appropriate headings, paragraph structure, and logically connected sentences.
2. Follow with an introduction. Identify the case you selected, and summarize the key facts
of the case.
3. Apply what you have learned from the textbook reading, to this case study. Determine
whether the offender’s release has merit.
4. Include a reference page, and support your assertions with evidence from at least 3–5
references. Be sure to cite the references in-text, using current APA formatting. The
body of your paper must be 5–7 pages.
5. Discuss a biblical worldview as it relates to the case study, and integrate biblical
references to support your discussion.
6. Conclude the case study with a substantive summary of key points.
Case 3.A
Joseph, age 28, is serving up to 20 years for 2 counts of armed robbery. He has already served
the mandatory minimum of 5 years and is being considered for release for the first time. Joseph
served a previous sentence for burglary and successfully completed a release period before he
committed the current crimes. The victims in both robberies were elderly gas station attendants,
and very small amounts of money were obtained from the robberies. The victims remain fearful
of the offender, and both indicate that their lives were significantly affected by the experience.
CJUS 322
Page 2 of 2
Neither victim ever returned to work out of fear of similar events. While incarcerated, Joseph has
completed substance abuse treatment for his cocaine dependence, meeting treatment summary
calls for his attendance in facility Cocaine Anonymous meetings. He attends such meetings about
half of the time they are offered. He has also completed an anger management program, has been
assigned to several inmate jobs, and has had no rule violations while incarcerated. Joseph would
like to be transitioned to a work release facility, but due to a waiting list he was not able to enter
its program prior to being considered for release. His community plan is to return to the same
community where he committed the crimes, live with his elderly aunt, seek work as a
constructions laborer, and attend community substance abuse aftercare. He would be under the
supervision of a parole officer upon his release, if granted.
Case 3.B
Fred is a 39-year-old individual serving 14 years for possession with intent to sell a controlled
substance. This is his second prison term, having served a six-year sentence for sale of heroin in
the 1990s. He was paroled on the first offense after 4 years and successfully completed parole
supervision. However, he was arrested on the current charge within 2 months of being released
from parole supervision. Law enforcement officials reported that he had been under surveillance
for several months before the arrest and was suspected of dealing drugs during most of the period
under parole supervision. While under supervision, he reported regularly to this parole officer
and worked steadily as a job in a warehouse owned by his brother-in-law. There were no known
law violations during the period of supervision. Fred’s institutional adjustment has been
excellent. He attended drug counseling and is a member of the prison Narcotics Anonymous
group. He attained his GED certificate and reports that he wants to attend community college
when released. He will work for his brother-in-law again when released and live with his sister
and her husband until he can afford to rent an apartment. The sheriff in the county in which he
would live has protested his parole release, stating that Fred is a manipulative and devious
individual who maintains a façade of cooperation and honest living while continuing to sell
drugs. Fred has served 5 years of his current 14-year sentence. Institutional counselors
recommend his release at this time.
Case 3.C.
Marie is a 55-year-old female who has served 30 years of a 20 years-to-life sentence for murder.
She was convicted of killing her 2 young children (ages 2 and 4 years). She reported that her
live-in boyfriend would not agree to stay with her as long as she had children. She chose to kill
the children to maintain that relationship. She has maintained a near-perfect prison record and is
considered by authorities a model inmate. She reports great remorse for her actions. The prison
chaplain has counseled her for many years and states that she has been “born again” and
“forgiven” for her crimes and sins. Marie works as a chaplain’s assistant in the institution and is
well thought of by both prisoners and prison officials alike. If paroled, she will work for Prison
Ministries in her hometown and will be provided with a place to stay by her employers.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
Page 2 of 2
Neither victim ever returned to work out of fear of similar events. While incarcerated, Joseph has
completed substance abuse treatment for his cocaine dependence, meeting treatment summary
calls for his attendance in facility Cocaine Anonymous meetings. He attends such meetings about
half of the time they are offered. He has also completed an anger management program, has been
assigned to several inmate jobs, and has had no rule violations while incarcerated. Joseph would
like to be transitioned to a work release facility, but due to a waiting list he was not able to enter
its program prior to being considered for release. His community plan is to return to the same
community where he committed the crimes, live with his elderly aunt, seek work as a
constructions laborer, and attend community substance abuse aftercare. He would be under the
supervision of a parole officer upon his release, if granted.
Case 3.B
Fred is a 39-year-old individual serving 14 years for possession with intent to sell a controlled
substance. This is his second prison term, having served a six-year sentence for sale of heroin in
the 1990s. He was paroled on the first offense after 4 years and successfully completed parole
supervision. However, he was arrested on the current charge within 2 months of being released
from parole supervision. Law enforcement officials reported that he had been under surveillance
for several months before the arrest and was suspected of dealing drugs during most of the period
under parole supervision. While under supervision, he reported regularly to this parole officer
and worked steadily as a job in a warehouse owned by his brother-in-law. There were no known
law violations during the period of supervision. Fred’s institutional adjustment has been
excellent. He attended drug counseling and is a member of the prison Narcotics Anonymous
group. He attained his GED certificate and reports that he wants to attend community college
when released. He will work for his brother-in-law again when released and live with his sister
and her husband until he can afford to rent an apartment. The sheriff in the county in which he
would live has protested his parole release, stating that Fred is a manipulative and devious
individual who maintains a façade of cooperation and honest living while continuing to sell
drugs. Fred has served 5 years of his current 14-year sentence. Institutional counselors
recommend his release at this time.
Case 3.C.
Marie is a 55-year-old female who has served 30 years of a 20 years-to-life sentence for murder.
She was convicted of killing her 2 young children (ages 2 and 4 years). She reported that her
live-in boyfriend would not agree to stay with her as long as she had children. She chose to kill
the children to maintain that relationship. She has maintained a near-perfect prison record and is
considered by authorities a model inmate. She reports great remorse for her actions. The prison
chaplain has counseled her for many years and states that she has been “born again” and
“forgiven” for her crimes and sins. Marie works as a chaplain’s assistant in the institution and is
well thought of by both prisoners and prison officials alike. If paroled, she will work for Prison
Ministries in her hometown and will be provided with a place to stay by her employers.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
