parole
Parole is the conditional release of prisoners before the full completion of their sentence. The paroled prisoners, or parolees, are supervised by parole officers and who check if the parolee is following the terms/conditions of their parole. Common conditions of parole include adhering to curfews, confinement to specific geographical areas, notifying parole officers of any changes of address, refraining from the use of illegal substances, and refraining from committing any additional crimes while on parole. Some violations have different levels of severity in their punishment. For instance, if a parolee committed an assault, they would probably have to return to prison, while if they violated a minor traffic violation, they probably would not have to return to prison.
A parole board determines whether a prisoner is eligible for parole, provided that the prisoner’s sentence allows for the possibility of parole. If the prisoner is deemed eligible, the parole board conducts a hearing, analyzes the prisoner’s plan after release such as housing, education, employment status, and family relations. However, prisoners do not have a right to parole. Rules regarding parole vary by jurisdiction, please visit the United States Parole Commission website , for specific regulations, parole forms, hearing schedules, and more.
[Last reviewed in February of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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