What Is Parole? How Does Parole Work?
- The purpose of parole is to safely reintroduce criminal offenders back into society
- An inmate can apply for parole after serving 1/3 of his/her sentence
- Prior to a parole hearing, an inmate must submit a “parole plan” prior to the first day of the month in which the parole hearing is set
What should a parole plan include?
- An updated job offer (notarized or on letterhead);
- A residence letter (including the address, phone number, and a statement of willingness to allow the parole candidate to reside at that location); and
- Any letters of support and/or certificates of program completion.
What standards does the parole board consider at a parole hearing?
- Institutional Discipline– looking back to see if the inmate should be denied parole based on any infractions that have occurred in the past six (6) months;
- Risk Assessment– weighing the offense of the parole candidate and their risk profile;
- Aggravating Factors– considering a parole candidate’s bad behavior, failure to successfully complete programming (i.e. work release program), etc.;
- Mitigating Factors– considering a parole candidate’s strong community support, successful completion of programming (i.e. work release program), etc. (if the parole candidate is incarcerated for a sex offense, s/he must have successfully participated in a sex offender treatment program); and
- Special Factors for Juvenile Offenders– considering the age, maturity, home and community environment, rehabilitation efforts, etc.
Upon bad behavior or other parole violations, parole can be revoked:
- Within five (5) day of detention, an inmate must be given written notice of time, place, and purpose of a preliminary hearing (notice must also include the specific parole violations)
- Notice must provide the following rights: to appear and speak on his/her own behalf; to call witnesses and present evidence; to confront and cross-examine witnesses; and the right to counsel
- The preliminary hearing must be held within ten (10) days after the inmate receives notice
What happens if a parole hearing officer finds probable cause (that an inmate released on parole violated his/her parole conditions)?
- If the hearing officer finds probable cause, a final parole revocation hearing will be held within ninety (90) days of the preliminary hearing
- If the hearing officer does not find probable cause, or that the alleged parole violations were minimal, the inmate will be released and restored to his/her supervised parole conditions
For more information, contact Attorney Stefanie A. Murphy, Esq. for a FREE phone consultation at (401) 316-9423!
RI Felony Assault Lawyer Stefanie A. Murphy defends individuals facing felony assault charges in Barrington, Bristol, Burrillville, Charlestown, Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, East Greenwich, East Providence, Exeter, Foster, Glocester, Hopkinton, Jamestown, Johnston, Lincoln, Middletown, Narragansett, Newport, North Kingstown, North Providence, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Portsmouth, Providence, Richmond, Scituate, Smithfield, South Kingstown, Tiverton, Warren, Warwick, Westerly, West Greenwich, West Warwick, Woonsocket.
