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Parole

What is Parole?

Parole is for a person sentenced for a class 2, class 3, class 4, class 5, or class 6 felony, or for a level 1, level 2, level 3, or level 4 drug felony who is eligible for parole pursuant to section 17-22.5-403, or for a person who is eligible for parole pursuant to section 17-22.5-403.7. For those sentenced at this level, the State Board of Parole may consider all applications for parole, as well as all persons to be supervised under any Interstate Compact. The State Board of Parole may parole any person who is sentenced or committed to a correctional facility when the board determines, by using, where available, evidence-based practices and the guidelines established by this section, that there is a reasonable probability that the person will not violate the law while on parole and that the person's release from institutional custody is compatible with public safety and the welfare of society. The State Board of Parole shall first consider the risk of re-offense in every release decision it makes; working together with the offender and support services to complete required parole conditions and have the most successful outcome.

For a person sentenced for a class 2, class 3, class 4, class 5, or class 6 felony, or for a level 1, level 2, level 3, or level 4 drug felony who is eligible for parole pursuant to section 17-22.5-403, or for a person who is eligible for parole pursuant to section 17-22.5-403.7, the state board of parole may consider all applications for parole, as well as all persons to be supervised under any interstate compact.

The state board of parole may parole any person who is sentenced or committed to a correctional facility when the board determines, by using, where available, evidence-based practices and the guidelines established by this section, that there is a reasonable probability that the person will not violate the law while on parole and that the person's release from institutional custody is compatible with public safety and the welfare of society. The state board of parole shall first consider the risk of re-offense in every release decision it makes; working together with the offender and support services to complete required parole conditions and have the most successful outcome.

Parole Directives

Individual Conditions set by the State Board of Parole (varies due to risk and needs):

  • Treatment: Substance Use Treatment, Sex Offender Treatment (SXO), Domestic Violence (DV),  Mental Health.
  • No contact with co-defendants or victims.
  • Drug tests.
  • Community Corrections Placement (COP).
  • No contact with children.
  • No credit cards or financial devices.
  • Electronic Monitoring (EM) for 180 days or longer with Community Parole Officer discretion.
  • Any other conditions specific to an area of treatment or supervision.

The Parole Order will indicate which office the parolee should report to. If they do not have an office location, the parolee should call CWISE at 1-800-426-9146. The parolee will meet with a Community Parole Officer, review documents, and confirm treatment appointments. Additionally, the parolee will be given copies of all of the signed documentation.

The parolee has the ability to work on specific areas within themselves that have been concerns or problems in the past, all in an effort to be a successful person. 

Earned Discharge or Early Discharge is obtainable for most parolees. Parolees must complete 50% of their full sentence, complete all treatment requirements, and be successful with their supervision. For additional information, refer to Administrative Regulation 250-29 Early/Earned Discharge, which may be found on our Department Policies page.

 

Interventions are used as tools to identify negative actions or behavior in the parolee and teach positive tactics to overcome those behaviors that have an effect on their overall success on parole and in the community.

  • Substance Use Treatment - outpatient and inpatient (residential)
  • Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
  • Intensive Outpatient
  • Mental Health
  • Domestic Violence
  • Parenting
  • Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)
  • Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT)
  • Trauma Therapy

Absconders are those who have left their parole supervision secretly, typically to avoid detection or arrest for unlawful action. Absconders also include parolees that have left the state without permission or there whereabouts are unknown. If the CPO does not know the location of the parolee, a warrant for absconding may be entered.

If a parolee is unable to contact their CPO to update their location (for example, in a treatment center or a hospital) another person may contact the CPO for them in emergencies by calling CWISE at 1-800-426-9143 or the Fugitive Tip Line at 1-866-873-6305.

If an offender has technical parole violations (such as getting discharged from treatment) or commits a new law violation (a criminal offense), then the offender can be placed in front of the Parole Board for a Parole Board Hearing. The Parole Board Hearing is a court hearing with the Parole Board Member as the judge. The offender will either wait for their Parole Board Hearing in jail or in the community on a summons.

If the Parole Board revokes the offender, the offender will go back to a DOC facility for a specific amount of time.

If the offender is not revoked by the Parole Board, the offender will continue on parole with additional (and sometimes new) requirements.

Interventions can and may be used in lieu of a disciplinary-type hearing to address concerning behavior before the parolee is revoked and returned to prison.  Interventions are actions done by the Community Parole Officer to address negative or poor behaviors shown by the parolee. When the Community Parole Officer addresses these negative behaviors, they are providing the parolee with tactics, options, and alternatives to address their own behavior and make more positive choices for themselves.

These may include behavior/choices worksheets, Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), Inpatient Residential Treatment (IRT), Jail based treatment (JBT), loss of earned time, Inter-disciplinary treatment meetings, Electronic Monitoring, curfew restrictions, increased treatment, and one-on-one sessions.

There may be times where Interventions cannot be used due to the significant nature of the poor behavior displayed by the parolee.

Read our frequently asked questions or contact us for more information.