Final answer:
True, the number of prisoners released on discretionary parole has decreased as the incarceration rate has grown significantly but began to decline after peaking in 2007.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the number of prisoners released on discretionary parole has steadily decreased in recent years is True. The U.S. incarceration rate has indeed grown significantly over the last hundred years but has seen a decline since the peak in 2007. Factors such as 'tough-on-crime' legislation and an increase in the aging prison population contribute to this issue. The tendency to incarcerate rather than address root social problems has led to an expanding prison population, influenced by the lobbying power of the prison industry.