Chapter IV: Incarceration and Reentry

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Outline
Introduction
Policy Statements:
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Additional Resources

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Policy Statement 20: Release Decision

Ensure that clinical expertise and familiarity with community-based mental health resources inform release decisions and determination of conditions of release.

Overview
Recommendations:
a
b
c
d
e

Recommendation e: Train parole board members to increase their knowledge of the risks/needs of persons with mental illness and factors that mitigate that risk so release decisions and special conditions can be determined appropriately.

Parole board members should have some familiarity with the nature and types of mental illness, and how these disorders can be diagnosed and treated. Training curricula should be developed and, depending on the jurisdiction, tailored for individuals appointed to serve as parole board members, both for new appointees as well as on an annual or on-going basis for all members. (See Policy Statement 30: Training for Corrections Personnel, for discussion and examples of training for parole boards and parole officers.)