This article examines problems of parole application in Lithuania. The research applies a qualitative study in order to learn the peculiarities of the work and decision-making of judges and parole boards. Additionally, this study analyzes social research reports, filled out by staff in correctional facilities. This study covers as many factors influencing parole application as possible, and takes into account the peculiarities of the particular parole stages. Conclusions of this study should help theorists and practitioners see parole application from the point of view of judges and parole board members. Moreover, this work should encourage dialogue between judges, prison staff and community members not only in Lithuania, but, also in other countries.
Although parole is promoted by international recommendations, by the Penal Enforcement Law of Lithuania, by the Probation Law of Lithuania and by many criminal justice professionals, the application of parole decreases in Lithuanian case law. Jurisprudence parole cases show that in considering parole cases, court decisions are often based on very different criteria, and in some cases the same criteria are interpreted differently. Furthermore, despite more favorable opportunities to evaluate the criminal behavior risk of the convict reaching parole, the courts still tend to rely on slightly different criteria characterizing the convict. What is more, although parole legislation is becoming more liberal, according with the statistics, the recent percentage of paroled persons has been decreasing. Considering recent tendencies of parole application, it is unclear what factors may influence the existing differences of court practice, motives of parole application or declination and the relatively small number of paroled persons. In order to answer these questions, the authors of this study decided to examine the problems of parole application from several different perspectives. Authors conveyed a study that aimed at analyzing the work of parole boards and factors, which influence their parole decisions. Also, during this study, authors examined the peculiarities of judge parole decision-making. The study was intended to cover a wide range of factors that may influence parole application, so the authors did not limit the study to the court practice, but instead looked at the peculiarities of particular parole stages. During the empirical qualitative research, 7 interviews with judges and 8 interviews with the parole board members were performed, in accordance with the principle of the saturation of data. The research results should help both theorists and practitioners see parole from the point of view of judges and the parole board members; they should encourage dialogue as well as collaboration among judges that make decisions, the employees of penitentiary institutions and representatives of the public. In addition, the results should help to discover constructive ways of solving current parole problems and provide recommendations concerning a more fluent way of applying this institute. ; Straipsnyje analizuojama asmenų lygtinio paleidimo iš pataisos įstaigų problematika Lietuvoje. Kokybinio tyrimo metu gilintasi į lygtinio paleidimo iš pataisos įstaigų komisijų darbą, taip pat buvo nagrinėjami teisėjų darbo ir sprendimų priėmimo ypatumai. Tyrimo tikslas: atlikus interviu su teisėjais ir lygtinio paleidimo iš pataisos įstaigų komisijų nariais nustatyti pagrindines priežastis, kodėl lygtinio paleidimo taikymas Lietuvos teismų praktikoje nuo 2003 m. iki 2015 m. nuolat mažėjo ir šiuo metu lygtinai paleidžiama mažiau asmenų, nei atlikusių visą bausmę. Straipsnyje pateikiamos išvados turėtų padėti teoretikams ir praktikams pamatyti lygtinį paleidimą teisėjų ir lygtinio paleidimo iš pataisos įstaigų komisijų narių akimis bei paskatinti dialogą tarp sprendimus priimančių teisėjų, pataisos namų darbuotojų, visuomenės atstovų.
Stalking is considered a serious public health problem as well as a harmful form of victimization often leading to severe consequences for the victim. Although there is still little agreement on the exact definition of stalking, it has been recognized that the core elements of stalking include deliberateness and recurrence of the stalker's actions as well as victim fear and concern for safety. The main purpose of this article is to debate on the definition of stalking as well as provide the rates of stalking in Lithuania. Authors conclude that stalking refers to a constellation of a diverse range of actions and may include both direct communication with the victim and the use of cyberspace technologies. A rapid development of modern digital technologies leads to a wide variety of complex stalking behavior patterns that makes it complicated to generate an adequate legal response to this phenomenon. The results of a public survey conducted by a research group from the Law Institute of the Centre for Social Sciences in 2021 show that the rates of stalking in Lithuania are comparable to those reported in foreign studies as 17.5% of Lithuanian population have experienced stalking at least once during their lifetime. Stalking by the current or former intimate partner was the most prevalent stalking category, as it comprised nearly 39% of all stalking cases in the state. The article also covers some aspect of court practices in stalking-related cases during the period from 2016 to 2020, before anti-stalking legislation was introduced in Lithuania. By year 2021, when stalking was criminalized in Lithuania, 23 European Union member countries have managed to develop criminal anti-stalking legislation. Another aim of this article is to discuss the way criminal anti-stalking legislation was introduced in Lithuania and compare Lithuanian approach to the legal provisions enacted in other countries. Authors conclude that although the introduction of criminal anti-stalking legislation in Lithuania was an important step towards ...
Stalking is considered a serious public health problem as well as a harmful form of victimization often leading to severe consequences for the victim. Although there is still little agreement on the exact definition of stalking, it has been recognized that the core elements of stalking include deliberateness and recurrence of the stalker's actions as well as victim fear and concern for safety. The main purpose of this article is to debate on the definition of stalking as well as provide the rates of stalking in Lithuania. Authors conclude that stalking refers to a constellation of a diverse range of actions and may include both direct communication with the victim and the use of cyberspace technologies. A rapid development of modern digital technologies leads to a wide variety of complex stalking behavior patterns that makes it complicated to generate an adequate legal response to this phenomenon. The results of a public survey conducted by a research group from the Law Institute of the Centre for Social Sciences in 2021 show that the rates of stalking in Lithuania are comparable to those reported in foreign studies as 17.5% of Lithuanian population have experienced stalking at least once during their lifetime. Stalking by the current or former intimate partner was the most prevalent stalking category, as it comprised nearly 39% of all stalking cases in the state. The article also covers some aspect of court practices in stalking-related cases during the period from 2016 to 2020, before anti-stalking legislation was introduced in Lithuania. By year 2021, when stalking was criminalized in Lithuania, 23 European Union member countries have managed to develop criminal anti-stalking legislation. Another aim of this article is to discuss the way criminal anti-stalking legislation was introduced in Lithuania and compare Lithuanian approach to the legal provisions enacted in other countries. Authors conclude that although the introduction of criminal anti-stalking legislation in Lithuania was an important step towards ...
Stalking is considered a serious public health problem as well as a harmful form of victimization often leading to severe consequences for the victim. Although there is still little agreement on the exact definition of stalking, it has been recognized that the core elements of stalking include deliberateness and recurrence of the stalker's actions as well as victim fear and concern for safety. The main purpose of this article is to debate on the definition of stalking as well as provide the rates of stalking in Lithuania. Authors conclude that stalking refers to a constellation of a diverse range of actions and may include both direct communication with the victim and the use of cyberspace technologies. A rapid development of modern digital technologies leads to a wide variety of complex stalking behavior patterns that makes it complicated to generate an adequate legal response to this phenomenon. The results of a public survey conducted by a research group from the Law Institute of the Centre for Social Sciences in 2021 show that the rates of stalking in Lithuania are comparable to those reported in foreign studies as 17.5% of Lithuanian population have experienced stalking at least once during their lifetime. Stalking by the current or former intimate partner was the most prevalent stalking category, as it comprised nearly 39% of all stalking cases in the state. The article also covers some aspect of court practices in stalking-related cases during the period from 2016 to 2020, before anti-stalking legislation was introduced in Lithuania. By year 2021, when stalking was criminalized in Lithuania, 23 European Union member countries have managed to develop criminal anti-stalking legislation. Another aim of this article is to discuss the way criminal anti-stalking legislation was introduced in Lithuania and compare Lithuanian approach to the legal provisions enacted in other countries. Authors conclude that although the introduction of criminal anti-stalking legislation in Lithuania was an important step towards ...
Stalking is considered a serious public health problem as well as a harmful form of victimization often leading to severe consequences for the victim. Although there is still little agreement on the exact definition of stalking, it has been recognized that the core elements of stalking include deliberateness and recurrence of the stalker's actions as well as victim fear and concern for safety. The main purpose of this article is to debate on the definition of stalking as well as provide the rates of stalking in Lithuania. Authors conclude that stalking refers to a constellation of a diverse range of actions and may include both direct communication with the victim and the use of cyberspace technologies. A rapid development of modern digital technologies leads to a wide variety of complex stalking behavior patterns that makes it complicated to generate an adequate legal response to this phenomenon. The results of a public survey conducted by a research group from the Law Institute of the Centre for Social Sciences in 2021 show that the rates of stalking in Lithuania are comparable to those reported in foreign studies as 17.5% of Lithuanian population have experienced stalking at least once during their lifetime. Stalking by the current or former intimate partner was the most prevalent stalking category, as it comprised nearly 39% of all stalking cases in the state. The article also covers some aspect of court practices in stalking-related cases during the period from 2016 to 2020, before anti-stalking legislation was introduced in Lithuania. By year 2021, when stalking was criminalized in Lithuania, 23 European Union member countries have managed to develop criminal anti-stalking legislation. Another aim of this article is to discuss the way criminal anti-stalking legislation was introduced in Lithuania and compare Lithuanian approach to the legal provisions enacted in other countries. Authors conclude that although the introduction of criminal anti-stalking legislation in Lithuania was an important step towards ...
