How to Get Out of Prison: Views from Parole Board Members

Convicted lawbreakers sentenced to prisons do not always serve their entire terms inside correctional institutions. Instead, many inmates rejoin society as parolees, before their maximum sentences expire. Prior to receiving a discharge on parole supervision, however, an inmate often must be granted early release by a parole board. Utilizing semistructured qualitative interviews with 17 parole board members across four jurisdictions, this exploratory study examines what it takes to get out of prison and back into society from the perspectives of these parole gatekeepers. Policy implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.