- How did parole develop in the United States? Be sure to include in your explanation discussions of the Irish system and the indeterminate sentence.
- What role does parole play in the twenty-first century?
- What are the pros and cons of discretionary parole and mandatory release?
- How do you feel about the use of medical parole?What should be the purpose of sentencing for first-time felony offenders?
- What about for repeat offenders?
- Is it more important that sentences be consistent for all offenders of a similar class of crimes or that sentences be adapted to the characteristics and needs of each offender?
- Given the time and effort it takes to complete a PSI interview and report, is the effort worth it? Why or why not?
- What is the purpose of a victim impact statement in a PSI report? What factors have brought about the use of this statement?
- What factor(s) might explain why probation officers’ recommendations are so highly correlated with actual sentences imposed by judges?