GA Parole FY2015 Annual Report | Page 21

The Parole Process

After the agency receives an offender’s sentencing information electronically from the Department of Corrections, parole investigators throughout the state collect details of conviction offenses, interview inmates and family members for personal history statements and complete post sentence investigations.

For non-life sentence cases, hearing examiners review all of the information contained in the investigations conducted by parole investigators. In order to

make equitable recommendations to the Board Members, hearing examiners process and prepare rating summaries utilizing the agency’s Guidelines Rating System. (see guidelines at www.pap.georgia.gov/parole-consideration-eligibility).

Following the hearing examiner’s review, the cases and recommendations are electronically forwarded to the Board Members for consideration. Board Members then individually consider each case. The members may agree with the time to serve recommendation provided by the Guidelines Rating System or they may opt to deviate from the recommendation by increasing or decreasing the number of months to be served before parole is granted. The Board also has the authority to deny parole.

Tentative Parole Months or TPMs

After receiving the case from the hearing examiner, a Tentative Parole Month (TPM) is set when three of the five board members agree on a specific amount of time that the offender should serve before being granted parole. Inmates receive written notification of the Board’s decision. The Tentative Parole Month or “grant” can be rescinded at any time. The TPM is not a release date or a final parole release decision. An inmate’s TPM status is viewable on the agency’s website. The Inmate TPM Lookup (offender/inmate parole status) link is located on the home page at www.pap.georgia.gov.

Final Review Process

As the Tentative Parole Month (TPM) approaches, the hearing examiner will conduct a final

review of the offender’s case file. The final review determines if there is any reason a release date should not be set. Parole could be delayed or denied as a result of the offender not completing required programming, poor prison conduct, or because of detainers, warrants or new sentences. A release date that is set can be rescinded at any time prior to the release.

Life Sentence Parole

Considerations

Life sentenced inmates are considered when they become eligible under Georgia law (see State Law and Life Sentences). Unlike other offenders, the Board’s guidelines are not used and a TPM is not the result of the Board’s decision. The Board’s decision is either to grant or deny parole.

If parole is denied to a life sentenced inmate, the Board, by policy, will reconsider the case again at least once every eight years. The duration between considerations is a decision made by the Board.

Life sentenced inmates who have been denied parole and have a scheduled reconsideration date may receive expedited parole reviews if the Board receives new information that warrants an earlier review.

A life sentenced inmate receiving a “grant” parole decision may be required to complete a Department of Corrections’ work release program as a precondition to parole.

State Law and Life Sentences

Since 1995, there have been two

statutory changes pertaining to serious violent felonies that determine parole eligibility for a life sentenced offender.

If a crime considered to be a "seven deadly sin" was committed prior to 1995, the offender is eligible after seven years. In 1995, offenders committing these crimes became eligible after serving fourteen years. If the crime is committed after July 1, 2006, the offender is eligible for parole after serving thirty years. 

Clemency and Parole Consideration

State Board of Pardons and Paroles Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Report

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