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State Parole Authority Case Study

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The parole system is generally a “mitigation of the punishment of the prisoner in favour of his rehabilitation through conditional freedom, when appropriate ,” as established by the High Court of Australia. In achieving this, the State Parole Authority (SPA) would be prone to a high degree of pressure, particularly as a result of criticism from sources, such as the media. As a result, the extensive work of the SPA in reaching its decisions and dealing with important legal issues could be overlooked, leaving its functioning under scrutiny. This is highlighted in certain cases by the media, reporting that the SPA only takes minutes to reach its decisions , implying that minimal thought is given to properly balancing the rights of the offender, alongside the protection of the community. It is through observation of the general setting, decision-making process, offender’s attitudes, and the overall nature of the SPA that I was able to gather an understanding as to why it could be prone to criticism. Setting The SPA in Parramatta is held in a courtroom within the Sydney West Trial Courts. It was surprising to learn upon entering the room, …show more content…

In the hearing of Ms Walker, being held at the North Coast Correctional Centre, the Community Corrections Officer outlined to her that she is putting the SPA in a difficult position in asking to be released on parole, particularly as this would essentially mean a six month reduction off her sentence considering the length of her remaining sentence. The officer was very vocal about how this would raise concerns from a community point of view. The other members also had the ability to ask questions and raise their particular concerns. This highlighted the holistic independency of the SPA, while still maintaining its overall

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