Types of Supervision

Parole

Parole is the conditional release of an offender from prison prior to their maximum release date. Most inmates become eligible for parole consideration after having served one-third of their prison sentence.

In reference to the criminal justice system, the use of the term parole is derived from the French parole which carries the meaning of “spoken words.” Through time, the term became associated with the release of prisoners who gave or spoke their “word of honor,” to in no way further infringe upon the laws of the land or violate the conditions of their release.

Supervised Reprieve

In some instances, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles will grant reprieves to inmates who have at least a minimum of 30 days remaining on their prison sentence may be issued a reprieve. These offenders are released from prison and placed under the supervision of the Department of Community Supervision (DCS). These offenders are monitored with the same level of attention as offenders who have been released under normal parole circumstances.

Medical Reprieve

Requests for medical reprieves are initiated by the Department of Corrections’ Medical Reprieve Coordinator. To apply for a medical reprieve, the inmate’s medical condition must meet the following criteria:

• The inmate must suffer from an incurable illness.

• The inmate must be entirely incapacitated requiring assistance with the activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing, breathing, walking, etc.

• The inmate must have a life expectancy of less than 12 months.

If issued a reprieve, these offenders must comply with all standard conditions of release as well as any special conditions imposed by the Parole Board. In many cases, these offenders are placed on 24/7 house arrest with exceptions being made only for medical appointments.