Legal Definitions - Parole

Parole refers to the conditional release of an incarcerated individual from prison before they have completed their full sentence.

This release is not a right but a privilege granted by a parole board, which assesses factors like the individual's behavior in prison, their potential for rehabilitation, and the risk they might pose to the community. Individuals released on parole are subject to strict rules and supervision by a public official, often called a parole officer. These rules, known as parole conditions, are designed to support their reintegration into society while ensuring public safety. If a paroled individual violates these conditions, they may have their parole revoked and be returned to prison to serve the remainder of their original sentence.

• Example 1: Imagine Maria, who was serving a sentence for a non-violent financial crime. After several years, she is granted parole. Her parole conditions include maintaining stable employment, residing at a specific address, and attending weekly therapy sessions. One month into her parole, Maria loses her job due to company downsizing and, feeling overwhelmed, misses her scheduled therapy appointment. Her parole officer would investigate these violations. Depending on the circumstances and Maria's overall compliance, the parole board might impose stricter conditions, or if the violations are deemed serious or repeated, they could revoke her parole, sending her back to prison.

  This example illustrates parole as a conditional release, where specific requirements (employment, therapy attendance) must be met. It also shows how violations, even if not new crimes, can jeopardize that freedom and lead to potential re-incarceration.

• Example 2: Consider David, who was paroled after serving a portion of his sentence for a drug-related offense. A key condition of his parole is to abstain from all illegal substances and submit to random drug tests. Several months later, David is stopped by police for a minor traffic infraction, and during the stop, officers notice signs of drug use. A subsequent mandatory drug test confirms the presence of illegal substances in his system. Because David violated a fundamental condition of his parole (abstinence from drugs), his parole would likely be revoked, and he would be returned to prison to complete the remainder of his original sentence.

  This scenario demonstrates how parole is a privilege, not a right, and how a significant violation of its terms—in this case, failing a drug test—can directly lead to the loss of that conditional freedom and a return to incarceration.