Denial of parole: An inmate perspective

The bulk of parole decision-making focuses almost exclusively on the discre tion exercised by parole board members and the factors that affect their de cisions to grant or deny parole. The present study seeks to advance the wor k on parole decision-making by considering the inmate's perspective; specif ically, the viewpoint of inmates whose release on parole has been denied. B ased on letters written by inmates to the Colorado parole board, we explore the nature of the problems inmates experienced.