Law Students Guide Prisoners Through the Parole Process

law students gained entry to a prison with the aim of assisting inmates in gaining a clearer understanding of the parole process.

A group from Hertfordshire Law School organized three workshops involving 20 male inmates at HMP The Mount in Hemel Hempstead.

The inmates participated in a simulated oral hearing to gain insight into how the parole board evaluates cases.

“Despite serving several years behind bars, most inmates have minimal understanding of how parole works,” stated Zaherah Saghir, who is a senior lecturer at the law school.

Many inmates have above-average rates of learning disabilities like dyslexia, which means they require additional assistance when filling out forms and comprehending their parole documents.

The students believe that providing inmates with a clearer comprehension of the procedures involved might decrease recidivism rates and alleviate overcrowding in correctional facilities.

Assisted by the students, the inmates composed written appeals on behalf of a hypothetical prisoner who was up for parole.

In the simulated hearing, they took on various roles like those of members of the parole board, probation officers, or legal representatives.

The prisoners provided feedback to the university stating that the program enhanced their comprehension of the parole procedure.

Ms. Saghir commented, “This activity has greatly enlightened the inmates, everyone stated that they now feel more knowledgeable regarding the parole procedure.”

The second-year student Austin Lutwyche from Cheshunt mentioned that both he and his peers have gained valuable experiences.

He stated, “This initiative enabled me to grasp the lives of inmates and the procedures they follow to obtain parole.”

This has prompted me to enhance my public speaking abilities, enabling me to make necessary modifications as I interact with the inmates.

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  • University of Hertfordshire

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