Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Expect At My Parole Hearing
- You will appear before the Parole Board by closed circuit TV.
- There are eight parole sites in the State and your case will be heard from the site designated for your institution.
- The current parole sites are:
- Broad River Correctional
- Evans Correctional
- Kershaw Correctional
- Lee Correctional
- Leiber Correctional
- McCormick Correctional
- Perry Correctional
- Ridgeland Correctional
- The Parole Board starts hearing cases at 9:00 a.m. They are able to move from site to site and may come to a particular site several times before all cases are heard.
- Generally, opposition cases are heard first and then cases where an attorney is present to represent an inmate.
- The number you receive at your parole hearing is not the order in which your case will be called. It is a number for identification only.
- When you enter the hearing room, there will be a table and two rows of three chairs. The Inmate will sit in the middle of the first row. Your attorney will sit to your left. All others in support will sit in the remaining chairs. It is best to have your strongest speaker sit beside you, to your right. It is a good idea to decide who is going to speak prior to the hearing. Each person speaking should cover a different topic.
- The Parole Board will ask if you wish to speak first or if you would like your attorney to speak first. This is your decision. However, this decision needs to be made after discussion with your attorney. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration.
- What you say to the Board needs to be truthful and from the heart. Prior to the hearing and as part of the Parole presentation plan, we will discuss the issues that should be addressed at the hearing.
- After the hearing you will be asked to leave the hearing room. The Board will make a decision and you will be notified of their decision the same day as the hearing.
- Once you are told the Board’s decision, your family will be asked to leave the institution.
Why Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer?
The parole process can appear to be very simple. However, it has been our experience that there are numerous factors that go into the Board’s decision making it a much more complicated process.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HIRE A LAWYER. But attorney representation may increase your chances of making parole. If you go without a lawyer, the Board is in more control of the amount of time which you have to present your case. You may only have three or four minutes in front of the Board. It is not their intent to limit your time. However, they generally have about 100 cases to hear on a non-violent day and about 75 cases on a violent day. So time is very important. What you want to do is maximize the use of the time you are provided.
We have been providing representation to inmates for over 28 years and have appeared before the Board in over 1,000 parole hearings.
If we are retained the following services will be provided:
- An in-depth review of your specific case is performed.
- We determine what positive factors for parole you have and what negative factors you may have.
- Based on your crime, past record, institutional record, education, employment, programs taken and support we are able to develop a proposed parole plan.
- This plan will include those items which can make you a better risk for release, a better chance of being successful and address problem areas that you have had in the past. An example of these are education, self help books, drug and alcohol treatment, employment, family support, transportation to and from work and the goal that you have set for yourself once released.
- A parole package is prepared and submitted to the Board prior to your hearing. This package is used to illustrate the parole plan that has been developed for you.
- Information is obtained from you by use of questionnaires and our conversations with you and your family. This is very helpful in preparing your presentation at parole. The parole presentation is the single most important factor in the parole process. We will discuss with you and your family what issues need to be presented and addressed at your hearing.
- No one has a crystal ball. No one can guarantee you parole. However, a good solid parole plan and presentation can help you to achieve release. Not everyone is granted parole, but not everyone is denied parole either.