Board of Parole

2023 Board of Parole Business Meeting Schedule
Overview
The Parole Process

Potential Parolees

Parole is a process that begins while the individual is incarcerated. Offender Rehabilitation Coordinators and/or Supervising Offender Coordinators assist in preparing incarcerated individuals for their New York State Board of Parole interview. Board interviews include answering questions about prior criminal activity, custodial record, program participation, future goals and release plans.

The New York State Board of Parole is the sole entity with discretionary authority to grant release to eligible individuals incarcerated with DOCCS. It is an independent body responsible for determining parole, setting parole conditions, and revoking parole when conditions have been violated.

Individuals who have been approved for release, but who still have time on their sentence, must complete it on community supervision (generally referred to as parole) with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. 

Crime Victims

The Board recognizes that crime victims are an important part of the criminal justice process and have information that can assist its members when they consider release.

DOCCS' Office of Victim Assistance was established to assist individuals impacted by crime in getting their recommendations and/or impact statements to the Board and with questions regarding DOCCS' policies and procedures. The Office of Victim Assistance works in partnership with other criminal justice agencies and victim service providers to represent, protect and advance the interests of crime victims.

Things To Know
Preparing for Parole
Indeterminate and Determinate Sentences

Learn more about how conditional release dates apply to both determinate and indeterminate sentences.

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Preparing for the Parole Board Interview

Individuals who are incarcerated can do several things to prepare for the Board interview.

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Letters in Support or Opposition to Release
Anyone can submit letters in opposition or support of an incarcerated individual's release.
Role of the Board of Parole
Making Determinations

The Board of Parole panel, generally comprised of 2 or 3 members, reviews the incarcerated individual's file, letters in support of or opposition to release, and recommendations from district attorneys, sentencing courts, and defense attorneys to determine release.

Setting Conditions

The Board of Parole sets conditions of release for incarcerated individuals going into community supervision, as well as for those "conditionally released" to supervision by state statute who have earned time off their maximum sentence for good behavior.

Revoking Parole

Board of Parole action may require the individual to return to state prison or impose other appropriate sanctions. In some cases, Board action is delegated to Administrative Hearing Officers who have the authority to adjudicate parole violations.

Parole Appeals, Decisions and Rules & Regulations
Work with the Office of Victim Assistance (OVA) to tell the Board What You Think
Helping Victims and Families
Assisting Victims and Families

OVA serves as a liaison between the Board and victims of crimes and their families. 

Making Recommendations

Victims and their families can make recommendations to the Board through the OVA.

Scheduling Impact Statements

OVA can schedule in-person and telephone victim impact statements for victims and their families.

Resources

Helpful Information
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