A parole hearing is a final chance to convince the authorities that your loved one deserves to be released from prison. At this meeting, you and your family should do everything in your power to persuade the board to grant parole. To be successful, plan ahead and learn as much as possible about what takes place during a parole hearing. You can also click here for more on parole hearings and criminal defense lawyers.Â
Prepare a statement for the parole officer.
If you want to convince them that you’ll be a good candidate for parole, it’s important to prepare what’s called a statement for the parole officer. This is basically just an essay where you explain why you want parole, what your goals are for life after prison, and what steps you’ve taken to achieve those goals. The parole officer will read this statement at your hearing and use it to help them decide whether or not they want to let you out early.
Collect and organize information about where you will live.
In order to prepare for a parole hearing, it’s important to collect and organize information about where you will live.
If you plan on living with someone else, gather copies of the following documents:
- Birth certificates of any children who live in the home with you
- Dependency files for any children who live in the home with you
- A copy of your lease or rental agreement for your new home
Collect and organize information about your employment.
You may be able to get a job, depending on the type of crime you committed, the time that has elapsed since your conviction, and any other factors that the parole board considers. If you have been in jail or prison long enough to qualify for early release, and if you are not considered a danger to society by the parole board, they will consider whether or not you have been rehabilitated. You can help convince them that you are ready for release by showing them that you have worked hard to change your life in positive ways.
Present a credible plan for life after release from prison and how you intend to avoid returning to prison in the future.
Preparing for a parole hearing can be a stressful time. The last thing you want to do is make any mistakes that could jeopardize your chances of being released on parole.
To make sure you have the best chance of being granted parole, you’ll want to prepare a credible plan for life after release from prison and how you intend to avoid returning to prison in the future.
The following are some tips for preparing for a parole hearing:
1. Write down everything that happened during your incarceration so you can use it as evidence during the hearing. It’s important that this information is accurate and documented correctly because it will serve as proof that you’ve changed since committing your crime(s).
2. Write down what factors contributed to your behavior at the time of your conviction(s), such as alcohol or drug abuse; domestic violence; mental health problems; or other circumstances outside of your control (e.g., homelessness). This information will help explain why you made bad decisions at one point in time, but also show that these situations no longer exist in your life today so there’s no reason they should occur again in the future.
Meet with your attorney before the hearing.
Before your parole hearing, meet with your attorney. They’ll walk you through what to expect at the hearing and how to prepare for it. This will give you an idea of what questions the parole officer might ask you so that when they do ask them, it won’t catch you off guard.
Conclusion
Those who are able to clearly demonstrate their continued rehabilitation and ability to avoid further offenses should be confident that the parole board will grant their parole. The board uses a risk assessment process before making any decision, so often it is the strength of the supporting documentation that makes or breaks an appeal for parole.
An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help you compile the necessary evidence and present your case in the best possible light. Don’t go through this process alone – contact an attorney near you today.
