What is the primary goal of modern parole boards?

The primary goal of modern parole boards is maximizing public safety. This focus is rooted in the understanding that the communities in which parolees will re-enter must remain safe while also offering a structured process for reintegrating inmates back into society. Parole boards assess the risk of recidivism and consider various factors, such as the offender's behavior while incarcerated, their support systems upon release, and rehabilitation progress.

Maximizing public safety encompasses not only ensuring that individuals released on parole are ready to reintegrate without posing a threat to the community but also includes monitoring and enforcing conditions of parole that help maintain that safety. This holistic approach is critical in balancing the needs of the individual seeking parole and the overall safety of the public.

While reducing prison populations, granting parole to as many offenders as possible, and increasing rehabilitation programs may be secondary goals that align with the overarching mission of parole authorities, they are not the primary focus. Instead, the primary focus remains on ensuring that reentering offenders can do so without jeopardizing public safety.