PAROLE

form of supervised conditional liberty from prison granted prior to the expiration of the sentence. As a form of correctional treatment, parole is designed to enhance the protection of the community through the supervision and rehabilitation of selected offenders following their release from prison. The modern use of parole as a correctional method stems from a change in penal philosophy to emphasize reform and rehabilitation rather than retribution and punishment. Parole systems are usually administered by the ministry of justice, although in Mexico and South Africa the program is run by the ministry of welfare. In a few countries, parole is a function of the judiciary. Eligibility for parole is governed by statutes that provide either definite or indeterminate sentences (see indeterminate sentence) and define offenses for which parole may be granted. In some jurisdictions, eligibility for parole is prohibited by statute for offenders convicted of such serious crimes as narcotics peddling, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, or murder. Parole supervision ranges from little more than a periodic police check to intensive supervision by trained personnel. Conditions of parole vary widely but usually define minimum standards of conduct, delimit freedom of movement, and require the parolee to report regularly to a parole officer. Violation of the conditions of parole may constitute grounds for parole revocation and reincarceration.