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How to Apply for Parole in Alabama
June 9, 2022 at 5:00 AM
How to Apply for Parole in Alabama

Not sure how to apply for Parole in Alabama? This guide from Maxwell Tillman will help.

What is Parole?

Parole is a type of early release from prison in which you complete your sentence outside of prison under certain rules. Most often, you will need to check in with a designated parole officer, follow behavioral standards like abstaining from drug or alcohol use, and have a job and stable place of residence.

If you do not follow the rules and responsibilities given to you once released on parole, you can be sent back to prison to finish your sentence. While you can be reconsidered for parole at a later date after violation, you will need to serve additional time before you are considered, and you will have to start the process all over again.

Of course, the biggest benefit of being granted parole is that you can start over your life much sooner.

Who is Considered for Parole? And How Do You Apply?

At a certain point in time, you will be automatically considered for parole. An institutional parole officer (or IPO) will visit with you and interview you about your background and plans you might have after release.

You will receive notification by mail several months in advance letting you know that you are eligible for parole and that a parole hearing has been set for you. However, you will likely not learn the exact date of the hearing until later.

When your hearing date gets closer, The Parole Bureau will set an exact date. Because of the high number of cases the Parole Bureau hears each month, the actual date of your parole hearing could be scheduled months after your eligibility date.

To look over scheduled hearing dates for the next two months, you can visit The Parole Bureau’s website which is updated frequently.

Parole Eligibility

Your parole eligibility will depend on your “controlling sentence” and the amount of “good time” on your controlling sentence.

A controlling sentence is your longest-running sentence if you have more than one sentence. This does not include split sentences.

Good time is a way to reduce the time on your sentence by completing educational programs or earning your GED. Good time can help lower your controlling sentence so that you are closer to being eligible for parole in a shorter amount of time.

Your initial parole consideration depends on your controlling sentence that is subject to good time, and looks like this:

  • Sentence Length of 5 Years and Less: You are immediately eligible for parole but your hearing may not take place for several months
  • Sentence Length of 5-10 Years: You are eligible for parole 18 Months before your earliest release date
  • Sentence Length of 10-15 Years: You are eligible for parole 30 Months before your earliest release date
  • Sentence Length of 15 Years or more: You are eligible for parole after you have served ⅓ of the sentence, or 10 years, whichever is less

Keep in mind that if you were convicted of a Class A Felony after March 21, 2001, you will have to serve 85 percent of your sentence, or 15 years, whichever is less.

Class A Felonies Include:

  • Rape I
  • Kidnapping I
  • Murder
  • Attempted Murder
  • Sodomy I
  • Sexual Torture
  • Robbery I with serious physical injury
  • Burglary I with serious physical injury
  • Arson I with serious physical injury

Although you don’t need to apply for parole once you are eligible, you can apply for early parole consideration.

Early Parole Consideration

After the 2019 Parole Bill, receiving early parole is much more challenging. But you can apply once a year for parole consideration after you have served at least 5 years of your sentence.

Partner with Maxwell Tillman for Your Alabama Parole Hearing

An expert attorney from Maxwell Tillman can help make your parole hearing a success. Contact us today at our 24/7 Inmate Hotline.