Parole

Parole, otherwise known as conditional release, is an early release of a prisoner who agrees to abide by certain conditions. A parolee (the prisoner) gets out from behind bars but must now live up to several responsibilities while serving their sentence.

Prisoners only get parole for less severe sentences. The parole board decides who is eligible for parole. The committee closely considers the risk that the prisoner poses to the community.

During parole, offenders receive the opportunity to reintegrate into society under the supervision of a parole officer. Parole officers assist and monitor parolees as they adjust to their newfound freedom. Finding employment and dealing with substance abuse are a few ways to help parolees.

The parole board may also impose special conditions in certain circumstances. These may include abstaining from drugs or alcohol to counseling or staying away from certain people. If the offender breaches these conditions, they may have to go back to prison.

There are five main ways prisoners leave incarceration before their sentence. These include:

Full parole

Full parole provides an inmate with the most amount of freedom possible. They're able to return home indefinitely and serve the remainder of their sentence within society. They're required to report to a parole officer regularly and inform them of any changes in their personal lives.

Day Parole

Day parole allows inmates to leave the prison during daytime hours to work and participate in community-based activities. Inmates must return to prison or a halfway house each night. They can see family, participate in rehabilitation programs, attend community service, or attend medical appointments.

Emergency Parole or Custody Parole

Almost all inmates (except foreigners and those serving a death sentence) are eligible for 14-day emergency parole. This type of parole happens for two reasons: the death of a close family member or the marriage of an immediate family member. Immediate family members include:

• Grandparents
• Parents
• Children
• Sibling
• Grandchildren

The superintendent of the police force is in charge of granting Emergency Parole. The parolee gets emergency parole for one of two conditions: with or without a police escort.

Without a police escort, the parolee must report daily to the local police station. The prisoner bears the expense of the police escort before their release on parole.

Temporary Absences

This is the most restricted type of temporary release and is not considered parole. Temporary absences mean a prisoner gets out temporarily for only a certain amount of hours every month. This is dependent on the type of prison in which the inmate stays.

This type of release is for certain inmates for reasons that involve:

• Delivery of a child (except high-security risk prisoners)
• Serious illness of a close family member
• Natural disasters such as a flood, house collapse, and earthquakes
• To pursue the filing of a special leave petition

Statutory Release

This release is a right given to certain inmates who have served at least two-thirds of their sentence. However, offenders can return to custody if they violate their conditions or present a risk to the public.

Parole has never been discretionary, and inmates have to agree in writing to comply with conditions that the Parole Board sets. Failing to comply with parole conditions could result in going back to prison. A few conditions that apply to all parolee's include:

• They cannot commit an offense
• They cannot have an illegal weapon
• They must be under the supervision of a Parole Officer
• They must obey any reasonable direction from their Parole Officer

Additional conditions apply to specific cases if the Parole Board deems it necessary. These conditions include:

• Drug testing
• Not associating with specific people
• Electronic monitoring
• Sticking to a Curfew

If offenders have their parole dismissed, they can apply to the court for a new non-parole period. The Parole Board reviews each breach and can cancel the parole or impose other conditions.

The prisoner usually comes to the attention of the parole board as they near the end of their minimum sentence imposed by the court. The procedure for obtaining parole is as follows:

• A convict files a petition with the court
• The Superintendent requests a report from the police station that made the arrest
• Case history, prison behavior, and medical reports are all considered in granting parole
• The report goes to the Deputy Secretary, who decides on the outcome of the application

In some states, additional authorities are involved:

• The Inspector-General of the prison
• The District Magistrate

Parole is an opportunity for inmates to change how they engage in society. The provisions of parole are not very well-known by the public and are quite cumbersome. Parole enables inmates an opportunity to maintain their social relations. This helps them smoothly integrate back into society after serving their prison sentence.