Reducing Discretion in the Administration of Prison Leave: In Search of Legitimacy
This paper explains the institution of prison leave in Spain. Firstly, I will briefly describe the regulations governing prison leave and provide data on its use in Spain. I will point out that although half the prison population benefits from a prison leave, a main problem is that it is granted at...
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| Medienart: | Elektronisch Aufsatz |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
| Veröffentlicht: |
[2020]
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| In: |
European journal on criminal policy and research
Jahr: 2020, Band: 26, Heft: 2, Seiten: 141-156 |
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Vermutlich kostenfreier Zugang Volltext (Resolving-System) |
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| Verfügbarkeit prüfen: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Zusammenfassung: | This paper explains the institution of prison leave in Spain. Firstly, I will briefly describe the regulations governing prison leave and provide data on its use in Spain. I will point out that although half the prison population benefits from a prison leave, a main problem is that it is granted at a very late stage of the sentence, and that immigrants have a very low probability of obtaing it. Secondly, I will explain the criteria used in order to determine if a leave is granted, the wide discretion that psychologists in particular enjoy, and why this procedure might be experienced by the prisoner as unfair. Thirdly, I will describe the mixed system that allows both Prison Boards and Judges to make decisions about leave and how this often produces confusing results for prisoners. For instance, a positive prison report being followed by a negative judicial response due to the wide discretion that judicial authorities also enjoy. Finally, I draw some tentative conclusions about how a lack of clear criteria and procedure in relation to prison leave might also affect legitimacy in prison. |
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| ISSN: | 1572-9869 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10610-019-09424-4 |