Abolishing Parole

According to the selections from Issue 14 Part VIII from Debating Crime, some states' decision to utilize early parole has garnered the support of figures such as prisoners' rights advocate Ron Welch, who asserts that those states are "on the right track." He continues, "If we have limited prison space, only the best behaving prisoners ought to be considered for early release." This is a strong and valid point because good behavior could be considered a form of rehabilitation. If the prisoners can demonstrate good behavior while incarcerated, then they should have the ability to demonstrate the same good behavior in society. Data showed that the longer an offender remained behind bars, the less likely he is to commit another crime after finishing his sentence. The older the offender upon release, the less his propensity to commit more crime. In fact, after 37 years of age, the likelihood of violent crime drops dramatically.

By abolishing a bankrupt parole system, and by drastically reforming the “good time” credit provisions, Virginia courtrooms are redefining what the truth-in-sentencing debate is really about. Under our system, every inmate convicted of a violent crime will serve a minimum of 85 percent of his or her sentence. Nationwide, criminals on average serve well below 50 percent of their sentences. There is simply no surer way for the state to protect its citizens from society’s most dangerous members. Therefore abolishing parole should be taken into consideration.

Information and statistics provided by issue 14 part VIII from debating crime reading material indicates that three out of every four violent crimes—murder, armed robbery, rape, assault—are now committed by repeat offenders. The only foolproof crime-prevention technique is incarceration. Convicted felons were serving about one third of their sentences on average, and many served only one-sixth. Violent criminals were no exception. First-degree murderers were given average sentences of...