The Criminology Speaker Series welcomes Mike LaForest, PA Department of Corrections Postdoctoral Scholar, Penn State University, for his talk titled:
“Parole Conditions and Early Release at the Margin”
Topic: While nearly 80% of U.S. prisoners are released under parole supervision, relatively little is known about the effects of supervised release. Using the randomized assignment of parole board members and hearing examiners to parole hearings in Pennsylvania, I investigate the effects of parole board release decisions on post-release outcomes. First, I discuss whether, at the margin of release, individuals initially paroled experience lower rates of recidivism and higher rates of employment than individuals denied parole and released at a later date. Next, I discuss whether board-imposed parole conditions such as curfew, placement in a Community Corrections Center, or social contact restrictions impact post-release outcomes. Finally, I compare these results to the effects of parole supervision levels on post-release outcomes estimated using a regression discontinuity design around the risk test score cutoff values that determine supervision level.
Please join us on Wednesday, April 28 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. via Zoom.
This event is co-sponsored by the Criminal Justice Research Center and the Department of Sociology and Criminology.