The origin of parole in United States of America can be traced back to the earlier system of indenturing prisoners which meant removal of prisoners and handing them over to the employers for work and supervision on condition of being returned back to prison if they did not behave properly. Soon after, few State officials were associated with prisons for supervising and guiding the prisoners in their rehabilitation.
By the end of eighteenth century, many Prison Aid Societies were formed to assist and help the ex-convicts in their rehabilitation in the society. By 1840’s similar functions were assumed by the Federal States. Experience, however, showed that the commutation of the period of good-time allowance should only entitle a prisoner his release from the institution and not from the custody and supervision.
This idea gained momentum through successful working of the system of parole in England. The Elmira Reformatory in New York State was the first to adopt the system of parole in 1869. This system was subsequently adopted by other States in America. The main objectives of parole today are rehabilitation of the offender and at the same time protection of society from his anti-social acts.
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ADVERTISEMENTS:
The United States Board of Parole Research unit is engaged in working out standard rules for parole to be applicable throughout the United States. With the passing of the Parole Reforms Act, 1977, a uniform system of parole has been implemented throughout the country so as to do away with inequalities of sentencing and its evil effects on prisoners.