Parole in Illinois What Is Research Paper

Total Length: 727 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 2

Page 1 of 2

, January 2011). The way juveniles are handled is based on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, which is "…a body created to decide the fates of adult prisoners in correctional facilities," Hassakis writes in the ISBA magazine article. Very few youths have their parents with them at their parole hearings, and moreover, "…even fewer have an adult present for parole revocation hearings" (Hassakis, p. 2).

"After nearly six months of observations" that were conducted by the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, the report asserts that "…no youth has had an attorney or any legal help in making the case that he or she is ready for release" to the parole system (Hassakis, p. 2). The ISBA article asks a highly pertinent question: What young person at age 15 has the wherewithal to represent himself before a panel of adults that will decide whether he is ready for parole -- or "remains incarcerated?" (Hassakis, p. 2). It's a rhetorical question; few if any 15-year-olds are prepared to represent themselves in a parole hearing with adults.
In conclusion, the Huff Post's coverage of that same commission report alluded to above states that there are "…holes in the parole system that stack the odds against young people, who often aren't made aware of their rights…" (Schiffman, 2011). The "holes" in the parole system for young people need to be plugged up, and as for the adult parole reforms that are mentioned earlier in this paper, if they truly succeed in helping reduce recidivism -- and in helping offenders transition back into the community -- they should be continued and applauded.

Works Cited

Hassakis, Mark D., and Jacobs, Lisa. (2011). What if it Were Your Child? Illinois Bar Journal.

Retrieved December 29, 2011, from http://www.isba.org/ibj/2011/01/whatifitwereyourchild.

Illinois Department of Corrections / Parole Division. (2011). Scope of Responsibilities.

Retrieved December 29, 2011, from http://www.idoc.state.il.us.

Schiffman, Lizzie. (2011). Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission: Broken Parole System Traps

Young Offenders. Huff Post Chicago. Retrieved December 29, 2011, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com......

Need Help Writing Your Essay?