A CALL TO ACTION: IMPARTIAL AND FAIR TREATMENT IN PAROLE INITIATIVE

           On 29 August 2018, the International Men’s Day Team launched the global inaugural observance of the “Impartial And Fair Treatment In Parole” Initiative.  The “Impartial And Fair Treatment In Parole” Initiative is not an “one day affair:”  It is a “Call To Action” which, over the course of the next 12 months and beyond, will generate solutions-based dialogues addressing the barriers to “Impartial And Fair Treatment In Parole” and the development of holistic strategies to effectively address and eradicate these barriers  It will serve to move the issue of “Impartial And Fair Treatment And Parole” into national and global dialogues on Criminal Justice Reform and Restorative Justice. Inaugurated by Jerome Teelucksingh, Ph.D., a humanitarian, Gender Issues Thought Leader, Founder of International Men’s Day, educator, prolific author and poet, the “Impartial And Fair Treatment In Parole” Initiative is a “Call To Action” to educate citizens about the parole process – particularly, the family members and loved ones of incarcerated souls; support institutions, organizations, and individuals that assist eligible candidates successfully navigate the parole process; and help ensure that model prisoners are not arbitrarily denied parole in initial and, if necessary,  subsequent parole hearings. 

            Why has the parole process become a concern of the International Men’s Day Team?  

           In 2017, a brilliant soul and model prisoner with whom Dr. Teelucksingh and I have worked with for many years on numerous projects was arbitrarily denied parole for a very frivolous reason – despite having a low risk assessment score, a written offer of employment, a permanent address in the community to which he would return upon his release, and multiple Letters of Support advocating his release.  Throughout his period of incarceration, the gentleman in question positively enhanced his institutional environment and the lives of other incarcerated souls.   Without any assistance, the model prisoner prepared a 160-page parole packet which he presented to the Parole Board.  He was one of eight eligible candidates from the same correctional institution who appeared before the Parole Board on the same day – 29 August 2017.  Out of the eight eligible candidates who appeared before the Parole Board on 29 August 2017, only one was granted parole and it was his third parole hearing.

            The scenario I just described is not an anomaly.  Countless incarcerated souls have atoned for the transgressions they committed, mentored other incarcerated souls, and created initiatives that not only enhanced their institutional environment but also served to effectively address and resolve key challenges that negatively impact the communities they left and will return to – key challenges such as Fatherlessness, intergenerational incarceration, violence, and lack of positive male role models and access to legitimate real-life options.  These souls have clearly demonstrated that they are more valuable “on the outside” and that upon their release, they will implement their solutions-based initiatives in the communities they return to. Yet, many of these souls continue to languish in correctional facilities after being repeatedly denied parole – the majority of whom navigated the parole process alone – without the benefit of a legal team or assistance from family members, loved ones, or key stakeholders from their community.   Parole impacts everyone.  Why?  Because incarcerated souls who are granted parole will and do return to our communities.  In view of the fact that there are – at any given point in time – approximately 4.7 million Americans who are either on parole or probation, the likelihood that one of your neighbors is on parole is great.  Institutions, organizations, and individuals in communities have a vested interest in the parole process --- particularly, if disparities exist.   If parole is capriciously denied to model prisoners who have positively enhanced their institutional environment and designed and implemented mentoring and parenting programs for their incarcerated colleagues and/or positive life-transforming initiatives which help and resolve crime and violence issues that inundate the community to which they plan to return, everyone loses.   Many model prisoners who will return to their communities are on a mission to reduce crime, Fatherlessness, intergenerational incarceration; mentor at-risk children and youths; and help create legitimate real-life options.   Institutions, organizations, and individuals will be the beneficiaries of this mission – a mission that will, among other things, reduce the burden of taxpayers, help to create a nurturing and safe environment for the most vulnerable members of communities – its children and its Elders; attract new businesses and jobs to the neighborhood commercial corridors; and restore order and the rule of law.   Thus, institutions, organizations, and individuals in communities – everywhere –- must find a way to become proactive in the parole process.  A holistic approach to the parole process is needed.  

         Having said that, I think we need to be clear about what parole is.  Parole is not a privilege.  Parole is earned.    It is defined as “the early release from prison, before the prisoner has served the entire sentence”.  And when an incarcerated soul is granted parole, he or she is still under supervision for a period of time – usually, for the balance of his or her sentence.  Incarcerated souls released on parole must comply with a set of rules or what is known as “conditions of parole”.  Violation of these rules could lead to their being returned to prison.  So, what are some of the “conditions of parole”?  In addition to meeting regularly with his or parole officer, an incarcerated soul who has been granted parole must, as an example:

·         Obey all laws. 

·         Inform his or her parole officer at all times of his or her location.  This could involve being required to call a parole officer on designated dates and at designated times or the wearing of an electronic or GPS tracking device.

·         Request permission to travel.  Souls granted parole may be restricted from engaging in international travel and/or traveling to another state.

·         Refrain from the use of alcohol and drugs.

·         Allow his or her parole officer to conduct random searches of their residence – searches which do not need to be supported by probable cause.

·         Pay court-ordered fines and restitution – restitution is defined as money to be paid to victims of the crime committed by the soul who has been granted parole for losses incurred.

·         Attend court-ordered counseling or treatment programs -- e.g., anger management courses.

As you can see, incarcerated souls who have been granted parole must walk along a very narrow and straight line. 

        During the weeks and months ahead, the International Men’s Day Team – which consists of 84 nations – will work to move “Impartial And Fair Treatment In Parole” to the forefront of the ongoing Dialogue on Criminal Justice Reform and Restorative Justice.  You can look for updates on the International Men’s Day site at: https://www.usainternationalmensday.blogspot.com; IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD®’s blog at: http://globalfatherhooddialogue.blogspot.com or on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com).