The appropriateness and fulfilment of rehabilitative parole conditions imposed by district prisons boards

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Psychology
Degree name
Master of Science
Publisher
University of Canterbury
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
English
Date
1991
Authors
Morgan, Rowena H. (Rowena Helen)
Abstract

The present study reviews some aspects of the New Zealand District Prisons Boards parole system, as governed by the Criminal Justice Act (1985). The Boards of Papaura and Rolleston are presented as examples.

Of those granted parole by the Boards from May 1990 to September 1990, (N=39), psychological assessment provided incidence figures of drug and alcohol disorders (Diagnostic anger interview schedule), and anger problems (State Trait Anger Expression Inventory; and offenders classifying themselves as Maori (Cultural inventory devised for present study). Degree of matchin of problems to special parole conditions was determined by chi-square and phi-coefficient, along with the proportion of hits and correct rejections, to false alarms and misses. Statistically, a satisfactory match had occurred in drug, alcohol, and Maoritanga. Anger indicated a very poor match.

Fulfilment of special conditions indicated that at 10 weeks, 8% had fulfilled all special parole conditions; 34% had fulfilled all mandatory conditions; and 50% fulfilled one condition; while no parolee fulfilled more than one condition. At six months after release, 27% of parolees had been reconvicted, with one being reincarcerated.

Recommendations are made, regarding ways in which the Justice Department might address problems highlighted in the present research, including issues pertaining to the incorporation of actuarial prediction techniques in parole selection.

Description
Citation
Keywords
Parole--New Zealand, Criminals--Rehabilitation--New Zealand., Recidivism--New Zealand
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Rights
All Rights Reserved