PAROLE

INTRODUCTION:
Parole (also known as provisional release or supervised release) is a form of early
release a prison inmate where the prisoner agrees to abide by behavioral conditions,
including checking-in with their designated parole officers, or else they may be
rearrested and returned to prison.
Parole is the conditional release of prisoners before the full completion of their
sentence. The condition of the release of paroled prisoners is supervision by a public
officer. The parole officer takes the role of supervising the parolee.
Parole allows a prisoner to serve part of their sentence of imprisonment in the
community. While on parole, a prisoner will be subject to parole conditions and under
supervision. Serving part of the prison sentence in the community under parole supports
the prisoner to reintegrate into the community with the aim of improving community
safety.
Parole comes from the French for "word," and means "word of honor." You'll most
frequently hear it in relation to prisoners, who promise to fulfill certain conditions in
return for an early release from jail. When the officials are trying to decide whether a
prisoner is ready for parole, they have a parole hearing. Parole can also mean
"password." If you're part of an underground revolutionary group, you'll need a parole to
help keep your meetings secret. Just say the word at the door, and they'll let you in.
Parole is what the legal system calls the early release of an offender whose original
prison term has not been served in its entirety and is also defined as supervised
release, community supervision, or aftercare. This early release is meant to give
offenders a second chance and assist their reentry into society on terms that prioritize
the public's safety.
 BODY:
What It Means to Be on Parole

Parole is a conditional freedom for those convicted of a felony who have served part or
all of a prison sentence. Prisoners on parole are known as “parolees” and must meet
certain conditions to apply for and keep parole privileges.

Parole restrictions often require parolees to remain in the same state or geographical
area until the end of their parole. Other rules restrict drug and alcohol use and may
require parolees to attend recovery meetings or behavioral therapy.

Two Types of Parole

Here is a breakdown of the two general types of parole:

 Mandatory parole: Prisoners must serve after a prison sentence

 Discretionary parole: Prisoners are eligible to get out of prison early and serve the
remaining sentence as part of the community

Parole is not a right. Some state laws automatically grant parole hearings after
prisoners serve a set number of months or years, but this privilege is not extended to
everyone. Sometimes it’s part of a criminal sentence, while criminals sentenced to life
without parole are never eligible.

How Parole Works

The parole process starts when a prisoner becomes eligible. Prisoners are usually
eligible after a certain number of years into a sentence but may have to fill out forms
explaining why they qualify for parole and provide witnesses at the hearing.

Not all crimes are eligible for parole in some states and repeat or violent offenders can
lose their privileges.

How to Apply for Parole

Even in states where they are automatically eligible for a parole hearing, prisoners must
still complete a parole application. A case manager or attorney provides the application
or the waiver if the prisoner decides not to apply.

The parole board will approve or deny the application. Prisoners who already have
parole hearing dates can lose this privilege based on poor behavior while incarcerated.

A parole examiner reviews every application. Once the application is approved,

prisoners will attend a parole hearing to decide if their application is granted.
 What Happens at a Parole Hearing
Your attorney or case manager will let you know the date of your hearing in front of the
parole board, and prisoners can invite family, friends and witnesses to speak on their
behalf.

The parole board wants to hear about the accomplishments achieved while in prison
and details regarding what the prisoner will do if released. The committee will discuss
any prior criminal history and hear from the victim, the prisoner and their families and
witnesses to determine if there could be a risk of re-offense.

At the end of the hearing, the parole board makes a recommendation, which will be
reviewed again before an official decision is made. This can take up to 21 days. In some
cases, the state’s governor may have to approve a parole request.

Parole Restrictions and Supervision Requirements

Both discriminatory and mandatory parole have restrictions. Requirements vary by

state, but parolees can receive longer parole sentences or return to custody for violating
these restrictions.

The most common parole requirements and restrictions are:

 Parolees must maintain a job and residence

 Parolees must not contact any victims
 Parolees must agree to a curfew and/or electronic monitoring
 Parolees must attend recovery meetings or therapy
 Parolees must refrain from using drugs or alcohol and submit to regular drug testing
 Parolees must have permission to leave their geographic area, usually their home state
or city
The board assigns a parole officer to each case who periodically checks in on the
parolee. These can be surprise visits, but many parolees are also required to meet with
their parole officers throughout their sentence in order to keep parole privileges.
Parole Violations
Failure to meet with a parole officer results in stricter requirements or lands the parolee
back in prison. Other types of parole violations could involve committing a crime,
traveling outside the designated area or tampering with a monitoring device. All of this
will change the terms of the parole sentence.

In minor cases, parolees may have a hearing before their parole officer and submit to
increased monitoring. For major violations, parole boards hold revocation hearings to
determine whether or not to send the parolee back into custody.
Understanding Parole and How It Works

Parole is often used in conjunction with a prison sentence to help ensure a parolee
rehabilitates back into society and reduces their risk of re-offending. Most state laws
require parolees to maintain jobs, and many facilities and parole officers
offer employment resources for parolees. Parole violations can lead to stricter
monitoring requirements or even a return to incarceration.