About:
- What is it? Parole is a system of releasing a prisoner with suspension of the sentence. The release is conditional, usually subject to behaviour, and requires periodic reporting to the authorities for a set period of time.
- Objective: Parole is considered a reformative process, and was introduced with a view to humanising the prison system.
Comparison with Furlough:
- A broadly similar but subtly different concept is furlough, which is given in case of long-term imprisonment.
- While furlough is seen as a matter of right, to be granted periodically irrespective of any reason and merely to enable the prisoner to retain family and social ties, parole is not a matter of right and may be denied to a prisoner even when he makes out a sufficient case.
