In my state members of the Parole Board are appointed by the governor as a result of croniness, or more often, campaign contributions. They are usually well-off "gated community" types who are disconnected from average people and the everyday risks we face from the people they let out of prison.
My supervisor is an old parole officer who is nearing retirement and from the stories he tells me, there are plenty of criminals who get some good old street justice before they ever make it to the county lockup. Especially the ones who hurt kids. Unfortunatly, accidents happen and when a criminal takes a swing at a parole officer or tries to stab him they sometimes get badly hurt in the ensuing scuffle.
Maybe state Parole Boards should be made up of retired parole officers instead of political appointees. There are some, not alot but some, roundabout ways of denying the most dangerous scumbags parole and it can be dragged out for years. The old guys know how to do it.
I believe this form of justice is necessary sometimes because of the total failure of the court system as a whole to punish criminals. I am grateful to the people who execute this form of justice. It helps keep the barbarians and pagans in check.