Long Road to Freedom: Factors Delaying Prisoners’ Early Release from Prison

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify the factors that delay the granting of early release to prisoners who are eligible for early release according to the Israeli law. The study is based on participatory observations of parole board hearings, interviews with parole board members, and content analysis of protocols of parole boards and legal rulings. The main factors identified in delaying release are related to the numerous postponements of hearings and delays in receiving documents from relevant parties. These factors are discussed in detail, offering recommendation for improvement and thus increasing the number of early releases.

Reintegration experiences in a sample of Israeli parolees on completion of their term of supervision: A qualitative study

“…Notable are the favorable perceptions of the interviewees with respect to the programs and their expectations for the future, particularly regarding the effectiveness of the rehabilitation program. These findings are in line with previous research (Peled-Laskov and Bialer, 2013;Peled-Laskov et al, 2019) and with the statistical data available from the IPRA as to the low rate of recidivism (20%) among prisoners who have completed the program (Timor and Nagar, 2014).…”

“…From 2004 to 2013, conditional parole was granted to about 36% of sentenced offenders in Israeli prisons each year (Timor and Nagar, 2014). The vast majority of paroled offenders were mandated to participate in a rehabilitation program organized by the IPRA and to remain under its supervision.…”