Discretionary Parole

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“With discretionary parole, “a parole board has authority to release prisoners conditionally based on a statutory or administrative determination of eligibility.” … Discretionary parole is generally employed in states with indeterminate sentencing statutes” (Bohm & Haley, pp. 450, 2011). As a result of the ambiguity of indeterminate sentencing and the power of release granted to parole boards, offenders become easier to control and motivated toward compliance for the duration of their incarceration. “Without the prospect of discretionary release, inmates have fewer incentives for engaging in good behavior or participating in rehabilitative programs, and prison administrators have fewer mechanisms for relieving institutional crowding” (Schmalleger