Parole is an important improvement to the penal system but it would only be a success if backed up by specialised professionals, a criminologist has warned.
Each person on parole would require a parole officer but also a full supporting team of professionals in different fields, said criminologist Saviour Formosa, from the University's Institute of Criminology.
However, he welcomed the proposal saying it was "definitely" an enhancement to the system in place where sentenced persons were not monitored once they left the prison.
"The current system allows offenders to leave prison early, having been awarded remission points, thus cutting the sentence time considerably. Parole will, however, serve as a tool where that person is monitored for a period of time once outside to ensure rehabilitation takes a step forward," Dr Formosa said.
The proposed team of professionals had to ensure the convict did not "fall out of the system" and returned to a life of crime, he said, insisting that letting someone off early without professional backup would only make the system "fail itself and society".
A task force set up by the Home Affairs Ministry last week published a report proposing the introduction of parole among other suggestions for prison reform.
Under the proposals, convicts would be eligible to apply with the Parole Board for early release from prison. Parole could be granted on certain conditions. The report also made it clear that parole was not a right but a concession and the offender granted early release would have to be monitored by an officer and other professional people, such as psychologists, social workers and educationalists.
The proposals were welcomed by the Parliamentary Secretary for Revenues and Land, Jason Azzopardi, who in the previous legislature had jointly campaigned with Labour MP Josè Herrera for the introduction of parole. Describing parole as a "historical step" in the evolution of the justice system, Dr Azzopardi said it had been implemented successfully in various countries.
"It was introduced more than 150 years ago and is statistically proven to help decrease recidivism and criminality. Since parole is a concession and not a right, it is up to the individual prisoner to show he deserves such a chance," he said.
Dr Formosa insisted parole on its own was not the "golden solution" to cut crime and had to be integrated with a number of disciplines.
It was important for prisoners on parole, he said, to have enhanced social cohesion so that contact with family and friends brought about a positive influence, not a negative one.
"These persons should have access to education, work and other lifelong opportunities. Parole will only work if the system is fully integrated with other initiatives," Dr Formosa said.
Another issue raised by the task force was the introduction of an electronic tagging system for people on parole and others still waiting to be sentenced.
"Tagging should be one of the prerequisites for parole because these persons would technically still be serving a sentence. One must ensure society feels safe," Dr Formosa said, pointing out that parole was more stressful on the offender.
Parole coupled with electronic tagging, he insisted, was equivalent to "freedom within incarceration" but it ensured an offender could pay back society on the "outside rather than within the prison walls".
Dr Azzopardi also saw the benefit of parole for victims of crime: "A prisoner's request to be considered eligible for parole will have to depend, among many other issues, on whether he has repented for his actions and on whether he has compensated the victim of his crime."
Dr Herrera preferred not to comment on the report because the Labour Party parliamentary group had not yet taken a common position.
"Given that I am the shadow spokesman for justice I do not want to condition the debate but I am analysing the recommendations and preparing a report to be discussed by the parliamentary group. At this stage I prefer to reserve my opinion," he said, insisting the report had positive aspects and others that had to change.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com