People who are convicted of a crime and sentenced to prison will usually want to be released as soon as possible. For some, there’s a possibility of being awarded parole, which enables them to get out of prison before their initial release date.
Being granted parole isn’t always easy. The determination about who can be paroled out of prison is made a board of individuals who look at the charges that an inmate was convicted of, their prior criminal history, their behavior while in prison, their ties to the community, the plan they have for when they’re released and a host of other factors.
Parole has very strict terms
If a person is granted parole, they’ll be subjected to very strict terms for the duration of their parole. The entire process is overseen by a parole officer who closely monitors the individuals on their caseload.
While the terms of parole vary some, there are certain common requirements that apply across the board. One of the most important is that the parolee reports to their parole officer as required. The officer will set the schedule for these meetings, and they can occur in person or over the phone.
Parolees typically can’t travel outside of a certain geographic area without having written permission from their parole officer. They will usually have to hold a steady job and have an approved place to live. If either of those points changes, they have to report the change to their supervising officer immediately.
Everyone on parole is expected to remain out of legal trouble. They typically can’t socialize with other parolees or felons. Using drugs is forbidden for parolees, and they may be required to take random drug tests. Some may also be forbidden from consuming alcohol.
Parole revocations are possible
A parolee who doesn’t comply with every requirement they’re given by their supervising officer can face a revocation. Several factors determine how parole violations are handled. Some circumstances may allow the parole officer to use their discretion on how to handle them, but others require an automatic parole violation hearing.
Anyone who’s facing a parole violation should seek immediate legal assistance. These cases can be complex, and they’re heard via a bench trial instead of a jury trial, so legal arguments must be precise.