Parole is a conditional release. Parole does not change an original sentence, but rather suspends the time to serve in DOC upon certain stipulations or conditions being met. The Pardon and Parole Board reviews each case and considers the information presented at a hearing and in the individual’s DOC file. There must be a majority vote for parole to be granted for non-violent charges. For violent charges, there must be a majority vote of the Pardon and Parole Board to recommend parole to the Governor. The Governor must approve parole for violent charges.
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The type of charge, and date it occurred, determines the minimum amount of time an individual must serve before being eligible for parole. A parole date is calculated by a parole investigator using the length of the individual’s sentence, minus any jail time credited to the individual upon entering DOC custody. Depending on the date of conviction, individuals convicted of nonviolent charges will become parole eligible after serving 25% or 33% of their prison sentence. Someone serving a sentence for a charge that is considered violent may be eligible for parole after serving 85% of their prison sentence.
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