Discretionary Authority In The Shawshank Redemption

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For this discussion, our group chose to analyze a clip from the film The Shawshank Redemption. The clip shows one the main characters, Red, walking in to multiple parole hearings and expressing his regret for his actions. Despite Red’s belief that he has been rehabilitated, the parole committee still decides to reject parole. Red is eventually granted parole after 40 years, but there doesn’t appear to be a definitive reason why the committee decides to grant his parole that time around. This clip addresses the issue of discretionary authority that has led to negative attitudes of bureaucracy from the public. The power of whether or not to allow this character, Red, out on parole is given solely to the parole committee seen here. If Red were

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