Denial of Parole: An Inmate Perspective

The bulk of parole decision-making focuses almost exclusively on the discretion exercised by parole board members and the factors that affect their decisions to grant or deny parole. The present study seeks to advance the work on parole decision-making by considering the inmate�s perspective; specifically, the viewpoint of inmates whose release on parole has been denied. Based on letters written by inmates to the Colorado parole board, we explore the nature of the problems inmates experienced.