The letter provides the inmate with the ability to express why he or she should be granted parole. The letter is sent to members of the parole panel. If the letter is compelling to the parole board, it may influence the decision to deny or grant community supervision to the inmate.
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How to Write a Parole Letter as the Offender 1 Understand what you must say. 2 Search for templates. 3 Open a word processing document. 4 Insert the date. 5 Begin by identifying yourself. 6 ... (more items) See More....
When the inmate is granted parole, he or she is allowed to serve a portion of his or her prison sentence in the community.
It’s important for the inmate to remain calm, respectful, and courteous during the interview. He or she must not beg for parole or express anger at the past. The inmate must state the case, reference his or her achievements in prison, and demonstrate a solid employment and lodging plan if granted parole.
For these reasons and others, it’s important to contact a knowledgeable parole lawyer before the parole hearing. He will help the offender to prepare for the interview questions and answers from members of the parole panel and to present an action plan if released.
Parole letters are letters written either by an incarcerated person or by his or her supporters. Intelligently written parole letters attesting to the offender's character, reformation and plans to improve his or her life will be read by the parole panel and may make the difference between release and denial.
Letters of support are evidence that the participant will have a network of friends and family to help when he is released. Why write a parole support letter? Inmates in the Texas prison system are encouraged by the Board of Pardons and Paroles to provide evidence of support for their release on parole.
Second, institutional behavior, incarceration length, crime severity, criminal history, mental illness, and victim input are among the most influential factors affecting parole release for parole-eligible inmates.
Today, there are three basic types of parole in the United States, discretionary, mandatory, and expiatory.
The letter of support consists of three main sections: an opening statement or introduction that identifies the project, one or two main body section of the letter to indicate the relationship of the writer to the project seeking funding, and a closing statement to summarize with key points.
Effective letters are to-the-point, and tend to be 1 - 1.5 pages long. Although there is no standard way in which a letter should unfold, it is a good idea to first highlight the intent of the letter, and then to proceed with the necessary details regarding background, relevance, impact and support.
II. Disqualification of a Parole Case:Inmates convicted of offenses punished with death penalty or life imprisonment;Inmates convicted of treason, conspiracy or proposal to commit treason or espionage;Inmates convicted of misprision of treason, rebelion, sedition or coup d'etat;More items...
Both parole and furlough can be denied if the competent authority is of the opinion that releasing the inmate would not be in the interest of society.
Grant of Parole. — A prisoner may be granted parole whenever the Board finds that there is a reasonable probability that if released, he will be law-abiding and that his release will not be incompatible with the interest and welfare of society.
Executive Clemency: The United States Constitution, Article II, Section 2, authorizes the President of the United States to adjust prison sentences through Executive Clemency.
Generally, those sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one (1) year or less, or to a straight penalty, or to a prison sentence without a minimum term of imprisonment. WHO MAY GRANT PAROLE TO A PRISONER? The Board of Pardons and Parole, an agency under the Office of the Secretary of Justice.
When can a prisoner apply for parole? A prisoner serving a determinate sentence (not a life sentence or IPP) can apply for parole up to six months before their Parole Eligibility Date (PED). When their Parole Eligibility Date is will depend entirely on the length of sentence they were given in court.
The decision on whether the inmate should be granted parole is made by a Commissioner of the United States Parole Commission after reviewing the hearing record created by the Hearing Examiner. Only an inmate eligible for parole consideration under the sentence imposed by the court is scheduled for a parole hearing.
The best way to ensure that you will receive notice of parole hearings is to register for the Federal Victim Notification System. To register, you must contact the Commission's Victim Support Program at 1.888.585.9103 or at [email protected].
Just because an inmate has been scheduled for a parole hearing does not mean the inmate will be released on parole. For some inmates, federal law requires a parole hearing every two years. Many inmates have several parole hearings before they are found suitable for release by the Parole Commission. Some parole-eligible inmates are ...
A parole hearing is a hearing to determine whether an inmate should be released from prison to parole supervision in the community for the remainder of the sentence. The hearing is conducted by a Hearing Examiner of the United States Parole Commission. The decision on whether the inmate should be granted parole is ...
If a witness or victim has been subpoenaed to testify at a hearing, they are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses and the regular fee for a government witness. At the hearing, the Hearing Examiner will provide the witness with a Fact Witness Voucher Form, on which expenses must be reported.
If you do not know the inmate's register number, please include whatever identifying information is available (for example, the name and location of the sentencing court, offense, docket number of the criminal case, and date of sentencing). Also, include an address/telephone number by which you may be reached by Commission staff.
A victim may appear in person at the institution where an inmate is confined or via video from a United States Attorney's Office and offer a statement during the hearing. A victim may also submit a written or recorded statement to the Commission in advance of the hearing. In addition, a victim may request permission to present an oral statement ...
When the Parole Commission is notified that a parolee has violated the conditions of release, the Commission issues an arrest warrant and the violator is promptly returned to custody for a hearing on the allegations with possible return to prison for the remainder of his or her sentence.
Federal offenders who feel they have been treated unfairly by the Commission's decision are entitled to an appeal within 30 days of receiving the Notice of Action . This appeal prompts a second Parole Commission review, by the National Appeals Board.
For Federal prisoners, law requires the Parole Commission to conduct interim hearings every 18 to 24 months, depending on the length of the sentence. At these hearings, the Commission considers whether there are substantial positive or negative factors that may warrant modifying the release date originally set. D.C.
A pre-release record review is conducted prior to each inmate's release date to determine whether the prisoner has maintained a satisfactory institution record, and met the required conditions for release. Prisoners are notified of all hearing decisions through a Notice of Action.
The inmate's first and last name. The inmate's institution number (is 2 letters first followed by 4 numbers) The inmate's parole number (3 or 4 numbers first followed by 1 or 2 letters) The state correctional facility where they are housed. The Board must have the inmate's name AND some other form of identifying information such as the date ...
The Board must have the inmate's name AND some other form of identifying information such as the date of birth or the institution or parole number to make certain the letter is placed in the correct individual's file.
the trial was unfair or unjust. The inmate shouldn’t blame anyone else for his or her actions or accuse others of wrongful behaviors. The goal of the parole letter is to definitively accept responsibility for past events while building a strong case for his or her success in life outside of prison.
The parolee may bring his or her defense attorney to the hearing.
Parole’s three primary goals are to re-integrate the offender into the community as a contributing and productive member: 1 He or she may receive assistance (from his or her community supervision officer) with housing, finances, work, or personal problems that might surface in making an adjustment to life after prison. 2 He or she is assisted by the structure of parole to re-establish his or her life in the community (without recidivism). 3 He or she wants to obey the law and is unlikely to commit new offenses.
The parole hearing provides a chance for the inmate to express thoughts about why he or she is a good risk for release. It’s a chance for him or her to express feelings about the offense as well as what he or she has accomplished and learned in prison.
His or her parole eligibility is determined by the nature of the original offense for which he or she was imprisoned.
The hearing officer next takes evidence from the parole officer, consisting of 1) documentary evidence ( e.g. the violation report that alleges the T&Cs the parolee violated), 2) videos, 3) witnesses, and so forth, depending on the allegations.
If the inmate is allowed to attend the parole hearing, he or she appears before the members to be interviewed.#N#The parole panel will ask questions about 1) criminal history, 2) time is prison, and 3) future plans if granted parole.
Explain why you support parole. In the second paragraph, you should explain the reasons you support the inmate receiving parole. Use your own language. For example, you might support parole because you are the inmate’s spouse and you and your children need the inmate back in your lives. You could write, “As I have visited Jeffrey with the children over the past two years, he has never failed to express remorse for what he did. When talking to the children, he asks them many questions about whether they are following the rules at school, and he always reminds them how important it is to listen to their teachers. The children need this fatherly presence at home.”
The purpose of a parole letter is to inform the parole board why an offender should be given parole and let out of prison. Parole letters are most often written by the offender, as well as by people who know the offender and support his or her release. They may also be written by people who oppose the offender’s release.
Point out why you think the offender is not rehabilitated. You should also bring to the parole board’s attention any facts that show the offender has not really rehabilitated himself. Cast doubt on the offender’s claim that he has turned his life around.
If you strongly believe the inmate hasn't changed, or you have proof that he hasn't, you should describe your reasoning or evidence in your parole letter. You should also try to include a copy of any letter the inmate might have mailed you, or explain what he might have said to you over the phone.
One common reason is that the inmate fears getting nervous at the hearing or doesn’t express himself well orally. If this is the case, then you should write a letter. Parole boards are looking for offenders to say certain things in their letters:
Explain the impact the crime has had on you. You should also explain to the parole board the toll the crime has taken on you physically and emotionally.
Describe your future. The parole board wants to see that you have realistic, concrete plans for leading a productive life outside of prison.
This section of your parole letter might be the toughest thing you ever have to write, whether it is for yourself or someone you believe deserves to be paroled from jail. Give a synopsis of the inmate's history, such as the circumstances that led to the crime. Avoid diverting blame for the crime – accept responsibility and show the rehabilitative efforts you made while incarcerated. If you are writing on an inmate's behalf, you probably have knowledge of the inmate's character and history. Include a short description in the letter, but do not try to portray the inmate as an innocent angel. Spend less than a paragraph describing the past. If you have completed a GED while incarcerated, include that in your letter, plus any other accomplishments. Likewise, if you participate in support groups within the jail, describe your role and the learnings from that role. On the other hand, if your incarceration record is blemished and you got in trouble for misconduct, treat that like your past. Explain why without diverting blame and describe the lessons you learned.
Parole Officer and Life Adjustments. Almost immediately upon release, you will meet with a parole officer, who will tell you to get a driver's license, or state ID. In addition, if your voting rights are restored, you will need to register to vote.
When an inmate is up for parole or if you are the one seeking to be paroled from jail, it is useful to write a letter to the parole board offering information that will help board members make an informed decision. Your letter should include details about the sentence and the inmate's plans after parole so the parole review board clearly ...
If you are the inmate, your subject line should include your name, DOC number, and hearing date. When you are writing for someone else, use the same information in the subject line, but include the inmate's name directly above his DOC number. You are writing a formal letter to appointed parole board members, therefore, ...
It is unacceptable to explain that you will just find a place to live after release. You must indicate specifically where and with whom the inmate will live once released. Also, explain whether he will depend on public transportation or if there is a car available. List the agencies the inmate will register with to make himself available for work. Inmates who acquired special skills while in jail may be able to put those to use post-release. If there is a job waiting for the inmate upon release, give details about the job, how the inmate obtained it, and the pay. If you are the inmate, it might be especially impressive if you include a budget for when you start earning money.
Make sure the parole board members receive the letter at least two to four weeks before the hearing to ensure plenty of time for them to read and review. This article was written by Legal Beagle staff.
There are typically five members, who will have five different addresses. Ensure that each member receives their own copy of the letter.
If your state has a Parole Board granting parole your state is an indeterminate parole date state. Write the Board AND write the local parole supervisor.
As several other answers have noted, the decision to release an inmate on parole is made not by the prison warden but by a parole board . The warden has authority to make and enforce rules within the prison, but no authority with regard to sentencing at all, except that the “prison records” department may make an initial determination as to the amount of time that is “credited” to the defendant.¹
Parole boards are most concerned with risk to the public and ensuring victim safety. What the inmate does during his time in prison is paramount to whether or not they will be considered for release. How many disciplines have they had and what type? Most also must meet with a psychologist prior to the hearing to be evaluated.
the warden can say “keep him locked up” or “let him out”, but it would carry about as much weight as my recommendation (as a semi-retired
If it’s a state sentence, you can submit your letter to the PBPP in that general time frame. If it is a county sentence, parole will be granted or denied by the sentencing judge, normally without a hearing. However, an application for parole will be evaluated by the county adult probation office³ and that agency might have an opinion as to whether the inmate should be released, so any comments can be submitted to the APO.
For this reason, defendants often will choose not to post bail, because they acknowledge the offence and wish to get the whole affair over with faster. This may also result in less “state time”; some inmates prefer to be located in county prisons rather than state prisons (though I’ve encountered at least one client who asked to go “upstate” as well).
I certainly can't speak for ALL prisons, but where my husband is, you have to NOT ONLY put YOUR full name and address on the OUTSIDE, You also have to put it on the TOP of EACH PAGE of a letter , or inside each greeting card, along with HIS Name and number. Everything HAS TO BE in a WHITE envelope, ONLY blue or black ink is accepted!
On average, only a third of inmates are granted parole, while our percentage is much higher. Improve the chances for parole – call us for a free consultation.
No attorney can guarantee anyone success in obtaining a parole. However, the twenty-one (21) members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles individually cast an estimated 10,000 votes each month. Consequently, the chance that an inmate’s case will receive in-depth consideration is minimal.
Don’t wait to see what happens. Procrastination almost always ends with a denial of parole.
The parole eligibility date is not the date the parole board will meet and decide whether to grant parole.