Furlough and parole are both terms associated with the criminal justice system, but they refer to different types of temporary or conditional release from incarceration. Below is a comparison of furlough and parole:
1. Furlough
- Definition: A furlough is a temporary leave of absence granted to a prisoner, usually for specific purposes, such as attending a family event, receiving medical treatment, or participating in a rehabilitation program. It is short-term and does not change the prisoner’s status as an inmate.
- Key Characteristics:
- Temporary: Furloughs are granted for a limited period, often just a few hours or days.
- Return to Prison: After the furlough period ends, the prisoner must return to the correctional facility to continue serving their sentence.
- Conditional: Furloughs come with strict conditions and restrictions, such as maintaining good behavior, adhering to curfews, and checking in with authorities. Violating these conditions can result in revocation of the furlough.
- Purpose: Furloughs are often granted for humanitarian reasons (e.g., attending a funeral), medical purposes, or for facilitating reintegration (e.g., job interviews, education programs).
- Legal Authority: The decision to grant a furlough is typically made by prison officials or a corrections board, based on established criteria.
- Examples:
- A prisoner is granted a two-day furlough to attend a family member’s funeral and must return to the prison after the event.
- A prisoner receives a medical furlough to undergo surgery at a hospital and returns to the prison after recovery.
2. Parole
- Definition: Parole is the conditional release of a prisoner before the completion of their full sentence. Unlike furlough, parole is a long-term release, and the individual is allowed to live outside of prison under supervision for the remainder of their sentence, as long as they comply with certain conditions.
- Key Characteristics:
- Long-term Release: Parole allows an inmate to leave prison and serve the remainder of their sentence in the community, subject to conditions.
- Supervision: Parolees are typically supervised by a parole officer and must regularly report to them. They must also comply with specific conditions, such as finding employment, avoiding criminal activity, and not leaving a designated area.
- Conditions and Revocation: If a parolee violates the terms of their parole, their parole can be revoked, and they may be returned to prison to serve the remainder of their sentence.
- Rehabilitation: Parole is often granted to inmates who have shown good behavior and have been deemed rehabilitated enough to re-enter society.
- Legal Authority: Parole is typically granted by a parole board or a similar authority, which assesses the inmate’s behavior, rehabilitation progress, and risk to society.
- Examples:
- An inmate is released on parole after serving 10 years of a 15-year sentence, with the condition that they report to a parole officer and avoid any criminal activity.
- A parolee who violates the conditions of their parole (e.g., by committing another crime) can be returned to prison to serve out the remainder of their sentence.
Comparison:
- Duration: Furlough is short-term (a few hours to days), while parole is long-term, potentially lasting the remainder of the sentence.
- Purpose: Furlough is granted for specific short-term purposes (e.g., medical reasons, family events), while parole is granted as part of an inmate’s transition back into society.
- Return to Prison: After a furlough, the inmate must return to prison to complete their sentence. Parole allows an inmate to live outside of prison under supervision, potentially completing their sentence in the community.
- Conditions: Both furlough and parole come with conditions. However, parole typically involves ongoing supervision and restrictions for an extended period, while furlough conditions are limited to the duration of the temporary release.
- Authority: Furlough is usually granted by prison officials for short-term releases, while parole is granted by a parole board after a thorough assessment of the inmate’s behavior and readiness for reintegration into society.
In summary, furlough is a temporary, short-term release from prison for specific purposes, whereas parole is a long-term conditional release that allows an inmate to serve the remainder of their sentence outside of prison under supervision.
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