Parole representation: What an Attorney May Do
From time to time, I am consulted by a person wanting me to assist them in getting a family member out of prison. Specifically, they have an upcoming parole hearing and they want to know what I can and will do as their attorney. Below are the steps that I take when working through a parole hearing, where the inmate's release is pending:
- Review the client's case (reason they are in prison)
- Obtain and review prison records: disciplinary and grievance records
- Meet with the Client face-to-face
- Interview the Client
- Speak with family and friends to make living and transportation arrangements (upon release)
- Create arguments to justify parole
- Explain and answer points discouraging parole
- Review the Client's written argument and parole plan
- Submit the argument with an interview request to speak with the lead voter on the parole board of the panel reviewing the case
- Speak with the parole panel members who vote on the parole matter and present a verbal presenation to the parole board members voting on the case
- Ask for an immediate release and discuss with the parole board members conditions that they may want implemented to approve the parole
- If the vote is for parole, track the case throughout the remaining steps until the parole certificate is printed
- If the vote is against parole, discover the reason(s) for the denial and provide any follow-up parole presentation that is necessary for free when the next review occurs
Of course, there is no guarantee that a person will be paroled and the amount of time that a person must serve in prison before being eligible varies. However, these are the basic steps that outline the process for preparing a parole case.
Fees vary depending on the amount of witnesses and hours of work to be spent on the matter. However, like my other criminal defense practice, I work on a flat-fee basis.
