Iranian Journal of Forest

Iranian Journal of Forest

Key factors influencing the realizability of alternative prison sentences in forest conservation in Golestan province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Z. Karimi Manesh 1
A Khalili 2
M.R. Shahraki 3
1 Ph.D. Student Private Islamic Azad University Gorgan and Expert of the Dept. of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan Province, Iran.
2 Ph.D. of Forestry, Dept. of Forestry, Faculty of Natural resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Researcher of rural development and expert in agricultural economics and natural resources of Golestan Governorate, Iran.
10.22034/ijf.2024.431889.1958
Abstract
Introduction: The issue of determining and implementing alternative prison terms in the management of Iran's natural resources is relatively new and is faced with various challenges. The alternative votes issued in the field of natural resources are a double-edged sword, which can lead to positive and negative effects in forest conservation. Therefore, the present research was conducted with the aim of analyzing the key factors influencing the successful realizability of alternative prison sentences in forest conservation in Golestan province.
Materials and Methods: This research is analytical and exploratory. The statistical population under study was made up of judges and legal experts, as well as rangers of forest conservation in Golestan province, among which 60 individuals were selected as purposive sample. Information was collected through a researcher-made questionnaire using the Delphi technique and interviews with 15 specialized natural resources and legal experts. Based on a focused group session, 20 final factors were presented in an N*N matrix. In this matrix, the impact of row factors on each column factor was scored on a four-option scale: no impact (value 0), weak impact (value 1), moderate impact (value 2), and strong impact (value 3). After categorizing the data, MicMac software was used to determine the factors influencing the successful realizability of alternative prison sentences in forest conservation in Golestan province.
Results: The results of the research showed the indicators of "diversification in the type of alternative sentences", "real conversion of the alternative sentence issued by the perpetrators of imprisonment, especially people with investment potential", "creating the context for the training of crime perpetrators and specialized judges in line with the policies of Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization of Iran " and "public awareness through out-of-home and media advertising in order to accept alternative sentences of imprisonment" with the highest numerical value obtained as the most important direct influencing factors in successful realizability. Alternative prison sentences were obtained in the field of forest management.
Conclusion: Issuing alternative sentences to imprisonment can have positive and negative effects in the management of forest areas. Iran's judicial system and natural resources management face various challenges when determining and implementing these types of rulings. Due to the public expectations in decisively dealing with forest offenders and the lack of punitive aspects in alternative punishments, especially free public services, the implementation of these punishments in forest management and conservation are more accused to be inefficient than other criminal justice programs. Therefore, with organized design and planning and constant quantitative and qualitative monitoring of the implementation of alternative votes in the field of forest management, continuous evaluation and monitoring of the effectiveness of alternative punishments for repeat offenders can help to address many existing issues. According to the obtained results, adapting the issued alternative rulings to the protection policies of the Natural Resources and Watershed Organization of the country and turning them into investment opportunities, attracting cash flows to provide the executive credits of the rehabilitation, restoration and conservation projects are among the most important suggestions of the current research for issuing alternative prison sentences in the future management of forest conservation.
Keywords
Alternative Sentence
Forest Conservation
Punishment
Violation

Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Forest
Volume 16, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
Autumn 2024
Pages 419-436

  • Receive Date 28 January 2024
  • Revise Date 03 August 2024
  • Accept Date 18 July 2024