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Parole Process

Parole is the conditional release of an inmate from incarceration to continue serving the balance of his or her sentence under supervision within the community. Parole is a privilege, not a right; it is not automatic or guaranteed. It may be revoked for violations of the conditions of parole or for new criminal convictions.

The parole process is best described as a series of steps not only for the inmate as he/she prepares for the parole interview, but also for the Parole Board itself as it reviews and processes hundreds of cases each month. Understanding the nuances of the parole process can be challenging. This section examines the key phases of the overall parole process.

Short Sentence Parole (SSP)

Under Act 115 of 2019 (or the Justice Reinvestment Initiative 2 (JRI2)), Short Sentence Parole allows the Parole Board to parole an individual without requiring an interview at the end of the person’s minimum date or RRRI minimum date, whichever is shorter. If the person eligible for SSP was committed to a DOC facility after the expiration of his/her minimum date, the Parole Board will approve the person for parole without requiring an interview within 30 days after commitment to the facility.