If you have been arrested and sentenced to prison, that doesn't necessarily mean you will be there until the end of your sentence. Some people get an early release on parole. When you are on parole, you are able to leave prison, but will be closely supervised by someone called a parole officer. You are given strict rules to abide by and if you do not follow those rules, you can be sent back to jail. Here is more information about parole.

You Can't Get Parole in Federal Prison

If you serve time in a federal prison, there is no such thing as parole. There are some inmates that get released early on good behavior and for various other reasons, but you must still serve a certain percentage of your original sentence. This is not the same thing as parole, though the term is often used interchangeably.

Parole is Granted by the Parole Board

Many people believe that parole is granted by a judge, but that isn't usually the case. If you want to get on parole, you will be answering to the parole board, not a judge. Parole boards meet to make decisions based on who should be granted parole, as well as whose parole should be revoked. However, if your right to parole was denied by the parole board, you may be able to file an appeal with the court, which is when a judge will make the final decision.

There is Some Personal Involvement

You may also have family members that are notified of your pending parole in order to get their view and opinions on the subject. This can actually work for or against someone that is trying to get parole. One family member might provide a positive viewpoint on the matter and show why this person should be granted parole, while another might provide evidence that goes the other direction. If you are currently in jail, you don't have much opinion who does or does not appear at the parole hearing.

Several Factors Affect Parole

When it comes to deciding whether or not you should be granted parole, the parole board will look at several factors. They will first look to see what offense you were sentenced for. The more severe the offense, the less likely you are to get parole. They also need to know if your sentencing included stipulations for or against parole after a certain period of time. Your behavior while in prison also affects the probability of parole. If you have shown to be a danger to others, it is unlikely that they will grant you parole. In addition, statements submitted by your victims during the crime can also change the parole board's decision.

If you are granted parole, make sure you are aware of all the conditions. This might include getting a job, reporting to your parole officer, not owning a weapon, obeying all laws, and providing a urine or blood sample to check for substance abuse. For more information, contact attorneys at places like Kassel & Kassel A Group of Independent Law Offices.

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