Parole Hearings: What to Expect
May 17, 2019When you or someone you love is eligible for parole, it can be equal parts exciting and daunting. After all, the inmate may be released. On the other hand, the hearing may seem complicated. Here is what you need to know.
What Is Parole?
When an inmate serves some of his or her prison sentence within the community, this is parole. Offenders receive parole if they adhere to specific rules in prison and will not be a risk to public welfare or safety. Generally, at sentencing, the inmate has a set time he or she has to serve in prison before he or she achieves eligibility. The idea behind parole is to integrate the inmate back into a productive member of society.
What Is the Parole Letter?
The parole letter is a major component of the entire process. The letter allows the inmate to express why he or she deserves parole. The parole panel receives the letter and it can often influence the panel’s decision. The letter needs to summarize the original offense, prior offenses and how the inmate has improved since incarceration. In addition, the offender needs to talk about future challenges and his or her future goals.
What Is the Parole Interview?
If the inmate can attend the parole hearing, then he or she appears before the board. The parole panel will have a list of questions to ask. These questions tend to be about:
- Criminal history
- Future plans
- Time in prison
It’s important that the inmate can answer all of the questions in a polite and professional manner. A quality parole lawyer in Harris County TX will be able to prepare his or her client in how to answer the questions.
When it comes to parole, it’s important for the inmate to be completely prepared. Parole hearings are daunting, especially if this is your first time going through it. The more you prepare, the easier it will be and the smoother the process is.