Posted on April 6, 2022 in Criminal Defense
The rules for parole differ by state. Generally, parole is the conditional release of an inmate before the end of their sentence. If approved for parole, the inmate will spend the rest of their sentence outside of prison but under community supervision.
If the parolee violates any terms of their parole, the court may revoke parole and send them back to prison. The court may also reinstate parole but add stricter rules and conditions for remaining on parole.
Most criminal offenses may qualify for parole. However, the Truth in Sentencing Bill exempted Class 1 felonies from parole. Therefore, for inmates serving a life sentence with the possibility of release, the Governor must pardon them or commute their sentences to be released from prison.
An inmate might qualify for one of four different types of parole. The types of parole in Arizona are:
Emergency parole is used to relieve overcrowding in jails. First-offenders who are considered not to be dangerous may be eligible for emergency parole under Arizona Statute §41-1604.11. Class 4, 5, and 6 felonies may qualify for emergency parole.
Inmates may be eligible for supervised release under Arizona Statute §41-1604.09 if they have completed a mandatory minimum amount of their sentence. In addition, inmates who serve one-half or two-thirds of their sentence may be eligible for regular parole.
Under Arizona Statutes §§31-443 and 13-603, an inmate may receive a commutation of their sentence. A commutation does not pardon the inmate or remove the criminal charges. However, it does reduce the prison sentence. The Board of Executive Clemency must recommend commutation, and the Governor must approve it.
The Board of Executive Clemency may recommend and approve a full, unsupervised release under Arizona Statutes §§41-1604.09D and 31-414. Absolute discharge ends the inmate’s sentence.
The Board of Executive Clemency holds parole hearings for eligible inmates. The Board must decide whether granting parole is in the public’s best interest. It must also determine if there is a substantial chance that the inmate might commit another crime if the Board grants parole.
The Board has broad discretion in granting parole and choosing the type of parole an inmate receives.
Factors that the Board may consider include, but are not limited to:
Inmates in Arizona generally become eligible for parole after serving one-half of their prison sentence. An exception is if Arizona’s criminal laws require the inmate to serve a minimum of two-thirds of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
If the Board grants parole, it places conditions on the inmate’s release. The inmate must follow the parole terms or face going back to prison for the rest of their sentence.
During community supervision, the terms and conditions of parole may include:
The inmate’s behavior in prison, criminal record, and potential threat to society help determine the terms and conditions for parole. Also, the severity of the crime committed and any aggravating factors could impact parole conditions. In addition, an inmate may be released on parole but required to stay in home detention as part of their supervised release.
After the inmate completes parole, they may apply for a Certificate of Absolute Discharge. The certificate indicates that the person completed their full sentence and is no longer under supervised release.
The duration of parole depends on the inmate’s original sentence and how long the inmate remained in prison. Depending on the circumstances and whether the inmate receives work furlough, an inmate could spend a significant portion of their sentence outside of prison.
Inmates and their families who have questions or concerns about parole may seek legal advice from a criminal defense attorney in Phoenix, AZ. They may also contact the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency.
For more information, contact the criminal defense attorney Craig Orent.
Give us a call at (480) 656-7301 or visit our law office at 11811 N Tatum Blvd UNIT 3031, Phoenix, AZ 85028.
We offer a free case evaluation, so get the help you deserve today.
