We were amazed to see not only were many of the newly available parole packet preparation services doing such a lousy job but some were not even addressing the Parole Guidelines Score or were using old numbers which resulted in an incorrect score. Since many of them actually bought our book and set up their service using the method established by us, this is particularly troubling.

This is such an important part of a Texas Parole Packet that we wanted to provide just a little information on it via our blog. It is covered in much more detail in our book, How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet available in both eBook/Digital format and as a bundle which includes the ebook and a printed copy which can be sent to the customer or mailed to the inmate in a TDCJ facility so they can assist in the preparation of their packet.

Back in 1985, the Texas legislature passed legislation which established guidelines allowing a score to be assessed covering both the seriousness of the offensive as well as the likelihood of the offender completing parole with no violations.

The guidelines have a number of different factors that are considered and assigned a numerical figure.

Factors Considered in Score

Age at first admission to a juvenile or adult correctional facility
History of supervisory release revocations for felony offenses
Prior incarcerations
Employment history
Offense which resulted in commitment
Offender’s current age
Gang member affiliation
Education, vocational and certified on-the-job training programs completed during the present incarceration
Prison disciplinary conduct
Current prison custody level

By assigning a score to each of these, the Texas Department of Pardons and Parole believe that the higher a score, the more likely an offender will be able to complete parole with no violations.

Our position at TexasParoleNow.com is that while the voting members of the parole board are likely to calculate these figures (or have them calculated by someone else in the office) it is essential that a Texas parole packet contain an accurate calculation as well, if for no other reason then so that parole doesn’t depend on the assumption that a worked in the parole office did the calculation correctly. While the factors set forth above may seem to be relatively few in number there are often multiple options for each factor. As an example, the offense severity ranking is based on a number of the charge and there are 2,642 possible felony charges to choose from with the number assigned varying widely. It’s therefore important the correct charge be selected and the number assigned.

Calculating the Parole Guidelines Score is actually not that difficult, so long as you have accurate, up to date information from which to choose as well as detailed instructions leading you through the process, as we set forth in our book.

As we’ve pointed out again and again, if you have the funds to retain a parole attorney then that is the optimal method but if you don’t, then be very careful about using parole packet preparation services since there is no way to know how experienced they are or what kind of work they will provide. Our book was written by a former lawyer with an extensive background in Texas criminal law as well as a professional in the psychological field so that the method we set forth is both accurate and designed to provide a positive outlook toward the parole application by the voting members of the parole board. The easy to follow instructions and forms allow anyone to prepare a packet for a fraction of the cost of the parole packet services being advertised and you’re guaranteed to be using the most accurate information since our materials are updated regularly.

While there is no specific grading scale used to determine whether a parole will be granted (other than the Parole Guidelines Score discussed in our book and in this article) there are a variety of factors which are considered by the voting members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole (TBPP).

First, and as we've mentioned before, an applicant for parole must remember that the Texas parole process does not work the way it does in the movies. There is no hearing where the potential parolee sits down with the people who will be voting and answers their questions. The vote is made by the members of the TBPP based solely on their review of their file.

It's clear one of the factors which is considered is any attempts the potential parolee has made during their incarceration to "better themselves". In many cases a condition of parole is that the parolee first take the GED classes and pass the GED test. Since this is done through the prison system, this should be documented in the file automatically. However, there are other classes that can be taken which will also award certificates of completion.

Some of these can be done through the church, and the best way to find those is by speaking to the pastor at the prison unit where the offender is incarcerated. Most of these programs are bible based studies, are short in duration, and with the completion of each section a certificate is awarded. As discussed in our book, How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet, these certificates can be included in the parole packet and demonstrate a willingness to learn and that at least some of the time spent "inside" was not wasted.

In addition, the teachers in the Texas Windham School District, the state funded school district run specifically for inmates, can provide additional materials for classes to be taken through the mail. The school district can be contacted at this website or the offender can speak to the teachers at the unit. Any classes they complete should provide a certificate and the materials can also be useful for the parole packet.

In addition to traditional classes, many prison units provide technical training such as HVAC, food preparation, and electronics repair. Even if the inmate doesn't plan on going into these fields taking the classes still demonstrates a willingness to reform as well as providing a job skill which the offender can fall back on if granted parole.

The main thing is that the inmate be able to present to the voting members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole evidence they didn't spend their time in prison just "waiting to get out" but instead embarked on a life plan to better themselves and their situation. This is the exact type of information which will assist the offender in receiving a vote to grant parole.

While we discuss this more thoroughly in our book, How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet, I just wanted to say a few words about how taking part in classes while incarcerated can potentially improve the chances of parole.

GED Classes

Almost everyone who enters the Texas prison system and does not have a high school diploma are enrolled in, or at least encouraged to enroll in, classes which will help them pass the GED test (high school equivalency). Realistically, the latest studies don't support the idea a GED will significantly improve the chances for a job. However, the reason for taking the GED and scoring well while incarcerated is that it gives the prisoner a chance to use that in their parole packet and argue that the ability to take the classes and pass the test prove they have changed due to the incarceration and are taking affirmative steps to improve themselves. If the GED score is high enough, a plan to proceed with either a vocational education or enter a junior college will allow the potential parolee to show they have thought through a course for their life which does not include criminal activity.

Vocational Classes

 Although many of the vocational classes, particularly at the private prisons (which are getting fewer), are just ways for the prison to get free workers as they "train" the prisoners, the parole board can consider this training as another example of an action taken to improve the prisoner's employability. Since there is no charge for these classes, and time is the one thing you have an excess of if you are in prison, the taking of vocational classes can only help the chances of parole. A certificate from this class, particularly if it is a certificate showing the course was completed, makes a good addition to the parole packet.

Church Classes

The number of people who find religion in prison is only matched by the number who lose it when they are released. However, many of the church groups offer correspondence classes and when finished. They will send the prisoner a certificate of completion and sometimes a bible or other type of religious material. Again, this is a way that a person can show they didn't idle away their time "inside" but kept busy. Whether the voting members of the parole board believe the interest in religion is serious or not, the certificates make a good addition to the parole packet and with a little thought can also help the prisoner make the case they have tried to better themselves by improving their mind during their sentence.

Texas Parole Packets

Many parole packets are anemic, simply because the prisoner chose not to be active while in prison. Thus, they don't have anything to show the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole to weigh against the folder and paperwork containing information about their crime. At that point, whether they "make parole"  or not is a coin toss.

As we describe in our book, a proper Texas parole packet will not only show the progress the potential parolee has made but it can also engage the voting member and draw attention away from the police, District Attorney, and court documents, and instead focus them on the prisoner as a person, rather than just as a number. The certificates alone won't likely change a vote from a denial of parole to a granting of parole, but a good parole packet, prepared with a plan in mind and in the manner we set forth in How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet, can be the difference between release and waiting for the next parole review.

The post Increase Chances of Parole in Texas by Being Active While Incarcerated appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

Four Texas state prisons could be closed as lawmakers consider reducing the Texas Department of Criminal Justice budget by $40 million.

If the final state budget is passed, this could mark the largest reduction in state's history.  

Last Friday, the House's chief budget writer, John Zerwas, said the House is looking for $4 billion to cut from its initial proposal.  

Two weeks ago, officials confirmed the 500-bed Ware Unit in Colorado City was likely to be closed while Bartlett State Jail, West Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility and Bridgeport Pre-Parole Facility are listed for possible closure.

Bartlett State Jail houses just over 1,000 inmates, West Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility houses 275 offenders and Bridgeport Pre-Parole Facility houses 200 inmates.

In addition, Rudd Unit in Brownfield would be converted to an intermediate sanction facility for housing parole violators. 

House Appropriations Committee chairman said a decision on the closing of prisons will be made in the coming days by a subcommittee headed by Oscar Longoria (D-Mission).  He said the proposed cuts have been closely reviewed and discussed.

The final decision on the cuts will be made by the Senate Finance and House Appropriations committees.  

Since the Texas prison system is facing serious budget problems and the local courts are not going to quit sentencing people, overcrowding will become a problem. Our book How To Prepare A Texas Parole Packet can be the difference between making parole and getting denied.  How to Prepare a Texas Parole Package is filled with easy to understand explanations and forms with each section of the book. How to Prepare a Texas Parole Package is available in printed form (which can be mailed to an inmate) or as a downloadable PDF.

The post Texas Considers Closing Four State Prisons appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

One question we at TexasParoleNow.com receive quite often is, "Which Parole Board Office has the highest release rate?"

The voting members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles decides which eligible offenders are to be released on parole or discretionary mandatory supervision.  The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles is composed of seven Parole Board Offices: Amarillo, Angelton, Austin, Gatesville, Huntsville, Palestine and San Antonio. 

For many years the Angleton Board Office has maintained the highest release rates among the various Parole Boards.  With the newly released statistics for 2016, this is no longer true.  

For fiscal year 2016, the Austin Board had the highest release rates.  The Austin Board Office had a release rate of 49.57% with Gatesville coming in second with 43.14%.  The Angelton Board Office dropped down to fifth position with a release rate of 34.75%.

The Austin Board Office comprises of three voting members and considered 22,394 cases.  That means that each voting member in the Austin Board Office reviews and votes on approximately 86 cases each business day devoting approximately 4 minutes for reviewing each file.  That is not much time for a comprehensive review.  That is why it is extremely important to prepare an effective parole packet.  

Our book, How To Prepare A Texas Parole Packet can help you create a strong parole package.  How To Prepare A Texas Parole Packet is designed to make your parole packet stand out from the rest, and with as little time as the parole board members have to review files, this can only help the chances.

The post Which Texas Parole Board Office Has The Highest Release Rate? appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

One of the most common questions is "Where can I find information on the parole status of a Texas prisoner"?

Because this is an issue that directly concerns families and other loved ones, we have put links on our website to allow you to easily find the parole status of a TDCJ inmate. 

Parole Status Search

The TDCJ Offender Information search provides projected release dates and housing location for inmates in all TDCJ facility. Be aware the information on this site changes frequently. 

As you might expect, the state's TDCJ website is slow, but be patient and you should find the information on the inmate's current parole status, projected release date, and housing unit. It is fairly up to date, usually within a few days.

Inmate Locators

At the top of this page is a tab titled Offender Information and Inmate Locator.  Click on that tab to reveal links to TDCJ Offender search, Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator and various county and city jails within Texas.  

Each link will take you to the specified website which is maintained by their respective municipality.

Texas Parole Packet

People ask us "When is the time to start preparing a Texas parole packet?" Most of you know that a parole packet or a parole presentation package is a collection of documents and pictures sent to the voting members of the Texas parole board to help them get to know the potential parolee a little better. This is particularly important in Texas since there is not an interview nor does the offender ever meet with an actual members of the parole board who will be voting.

Our answer as to when to start is always the same. 

Immediately.

There are many reasons for this, but the main thing to remember is it is better to have the information and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Many times it takes much longer to get the information together than you would think and people are forced to submit packets without all of the materials. When you are trying for parole in Texas you need every bit of help you can get.

We discuss the various parts of the packet in our eBook, How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet, available as a download which can then be used to prepare the packet or as a download and printed copy. As a bookstore, we can mail the printed copy to a prisoner at his or her unit or directly to you. By all means, if you can afford a parole attorney, hire one, but if you can't, our low priced eBook will help you to do the best job possible.

The post How to Find Texas Parole Status Information appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

One of the most frequently asked questions is "Should I get parole support letters to send to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles"? 

The answer is unquestionably yes.

Parole Support Letters

Parole support letters are letters written by friends, coworkers and relatives which tells the parole panel that an offender has a support system in place upon release.

The support letters are placed in an offender's case file and are available to the parole panel during the parole review process.

However, the letters alone probably won't be the difference between someone being granted parole in Texas and it being denied.  

What to Include in a Parole Support Letter

Parole support letters should include information on what the offender plans to do upon release.  This can include information on where they will be living, what kind of support system they have in place, treatment programs, and anything the person writing the letter knows about the inmate that makes them more human to the parole board member. Make sure to include information in the support letter that makes the inmate stand out from all the rest.

With parole support letters in Texas it is better to have quality, rather than quantity. Content matters more than there being a lot of them. You want to make sure that if the parole board pulls one letter out of the pack to read, that it has good information.

Texas Parole Packet

Our e-book, How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet, available here as a digital download and here as a digital download and a printed copy which can be mailed to you or to your loved one in prison, gives you several tips and examples on how to make the parole support letters and parole packet as complete as possible to increase the chances of parole.

Realistically, we know from the number of paroles reviewed each year and from the number of people on the parole boards, that each parole application and packet gets only a few minutes of attention. Knowing this to be a mathematical fact, it is important to put the best information you can in the parole packet, including the parole support letters.

The post Texas Parole Support Letters appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

When is an Inmate Eligible for Parole?

The process for parole begins at the sentencing.  Unless the court has specified a minimum amount of time for the offender to serve, parole eligibility is based on the sentence type, amount of time served, and good time accumulated.

What is Parole?

Parole is the early release of an offender who will serve the remainder of their sentence under the supervision of the Texas Department of Pardons and Parole.  An offender can only be paroled if they have served enough time to be eligible and are approved by the voting members of the parole panel.  

Parole is only available for inmates who are sentenced in the Institutional Divisional of the TDCJ and not to those in sentenced in state jail.

The chart below is the statutory guidelines for parole eligibility.  All dates  are calculated by the Correctional Institutions Division Records Office at TDCJ.  Once an inmate is processed, the Records Office will provide a time calculation sheet showing the initial parole eligibility date. The type of convicted offense determines the eligibility date and can change based on good time conduct.

Parole Eligibility Chart

¹ For every 12 months that elapse between the date the arrest warrant is issued after an indictment for the offense and the date the inmate is arrested, the earliest date on which the inmate is eligible for parole is delayed by three (3) years from the date otherwise listed in the chart.

Texas Parole Packet

Many parole packets are simply not adequate. They do not contain the necessary information a voting member of the parole panel needs to make an informed decision.  As we describe in our book, How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet, a proper Texas parole packet will not only show the progress the potential parolee has made since incarceration but it also focus the the viewers attention on the prisoner as a person, rather than just as a number. Our book, How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet, can show you how to prepare a quality parole packet which can be the difference between release and waiting for the next parole review.

The post When is an Inmate Eligible for Parole? appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

A thoroughly prepared parole packet should be submitted and be part of any parole consideration by the Texas Parole Board.

What is a Parole Packet?

A parole packet contains materials submitted to the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole in support of an inmate with the goal of getting early release on parole. 

A parole packet is more than just support letters.  It contains a parole plan, support letters, offers of employment, certificates of achievement, awards, pictures, personal history and more.  

Purpose of a Parole Packet

The purpose of a parole packet is to create a positive image of the offender and demonstrate the offender is no longer a threat to public safety.  It should address the mistakes the inmate made and any attempts at redemption. The packet should demonstrate to the parole board the inmate has the taken responsibility for his or her actions and has been rehabilitated.  

Why A Parole Packet is Important

One reason the parole pack is important is because the parole board may meet with the crime victim or representative. When an offender is considered for release the victim, guardian of the victim, or family member can appear in person before the board and read a statement about the offense and the effect of the offense on the victim.  

An organized and well thought out parole packet is designed to present the inmate in the best possible light.  Since it is uncommon for the Parole Board to grant interviews to the inmate, a well prepared packet is the only way to make an inmate's case for parole to the Board.

It is important to realize that in some cases the parole packet may be the only documentation the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has on file that does not reflect the offender negatively.

TexasParoleNow.com would like to help you create a clear, organized, and well-written parole packet.  Our book, How To Prepare A Texas Parole Packet, provides step-by-step instructions on completing a comprehensive parole packet.   How to Prepare a Texas Parole Package is filled with easy to understand explanations and forms with each section of the book. How to Prepare a Texas Parole Package is available in printed form (which can be mailed to an inmate) or as a downloadable PDF.

The post The Parole Packet appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

The 2017 Edition of How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet is now available.

The new book contains updated information concerning the parole board members, address changes, statistics and other pertinent information. In addition, the 2017 version also includes the updated scores used in the Parole Guidelines Calculator.

Throughout the year we update the book with any new information we receive so any time you order a book you are assured of getting the latest version available. In addition, when we do a major update we send an email to everyone who has purchased during the relevant time period allowing them to download the latest version as well. This is done at no charge so our customers are always assured of having the best information as timely as possible.

How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet is available in ebook format as an instant download or in bundled form with an ebook and a printed book to be sent to an offender in prison.  Since we are an approved vendor there are no issues receiving our books at a Texas jail or prison.  
 

The post Now Available-2017 Edition of How to Prepare A Texas Parole Packet appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

This is a really hard question to answer and I'm not sure there is one answer which fits all situations. However, i think there is one answer that can apply.

The most obvious reason is that some people don't put the time and effort into showing why they should be granted parole.

In our free book, Understanding the Texas Parole Process, we explain how the parole process works, and also important statistics like the number of voting members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole and the number of applications for parole they review each year. From those numbers we can see that each application for parole and the file associated with that application can only get only a few minutes review. The numbers don't lie.

The majority of any parole file will be the paperwork from the criminal proceeding which sent the offender to prison as well as the documents from the prison itself. None of those are designed to cast the applicant in a favorable light. Instead, in many cases they are negative or at best, neutral.

That is where the Parole Packet comes into play. It is the chance for the offender to present any information which is favorable or which will cast them in the most positive light to the board member who actually votes.

What goes into a parole packet? That varies by individual and is covered in detail, along with examples and forms, in our book How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet which is available in both digital format or as a digital and printed bundle. The printed book can be sent to the offender inside the prison system while the digital version can be used by family members "on the outside" who can assist in preparing the packet. While these books aren't free, they are substantially less expensive than hiring even a non-attorney parole packet preparation service (and, again, we recommend either preparing the packet yourself or using a parole attorney for reasons set forth on this website in various articles).

However, the actual preparation of the parole packet is the last step in a plan that has been carefully designed to maximize the positive aspects of the offender. This includes methods for the offender to educate themselves while in prison as well as obtaining certificates proving that they have not wasted their time while incarcerated but have, instead, taken steps to better themselves.

Anyone can make parole, a certain number will be granted each time and a certain number will be denied. The difference between those who do and do not get released can often be as little as just putting forth the extra effort to present themselves well in the parole packet.

The printed copy of the book also makes a nice present for an offender since it not only gives them something to read, but also gives them something to do with their time on the inside, which often seems to drag during the day.

The post Why Do Some People Make Parole When Others Don’t? appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

Spending Mother's Day in prison is pretty tough on both the mom inside as well as the kids on the outside. We urge you to visit the mom not only to help her keep her spirits up but also for the benefit of the children and to keep the family unit together as much as possible.

While every mother that is inside wants nothing more than to be out, if that's not possible then the next thing they want is to know that the people on the outside still love them and care about her.

It's not too late to start working on their parole package and to send them a copy of our book How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet.   In our book we discuss the various parts of the packet with easy step-by-step instructions. Our book How To Prepare a Texas Parole Packet is available as an automatic download or as a download and printed copy.

The post Mother’s Day in Prison appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

All TDCJ inmates have the right to at least some medical care while in a TDCJ prison. In 1993 Texas  adopted a managed health care plan to help reduce the cost of inmate medical care.

TexasParoleNow.com strongly recommends you get a complete medical, dental, and mental health (if needed) checkup prior to sentencing and incarceration.

Medical

If you are able to visit a doctor prior to incarceration then ask the doctor to complete a prognosis letter  explaining all medical problems you have and the medications used to treat the issues. Give a copy of the report to a family member and provide one to the county jail and TDCJ.  Make sure you have a signed HIPPA release form filled out with all medical and dental providers that may have relevant medical records.  Prison officials typically do not believe what the offender says about his or her health without written verification of their claims from a physician.  Even then, the medical personnel may not accept the letter unless it comes directly to them from the doctor.  

Prescriptions

When your doctor completes the prognosis letter make sure all of your prescriptions are listed.  The letter should include the medication name, dosage, how often administered, what it is used for, and why it is needed.  Just as important, if the doctor is willing have them list the medications which are not suitable since the prisons, and in particular the private ones, would prefer to use the cheapest possibility rather than the best medication. 

Once incarcerated the prison system is responsible for the offender's care and will determine what medications will be administered. The offender will not be allowed to take their own prescriptions into prison. The prison will take over administering all prescriptions from this point forward.  When entering prison, most medications previously prescribed will be changed by the prison medical staff but the letter mentioned in the previous paragraph should at least help if the medication chosen by the prison medical staff isn’t working correctly.  At times, the prison may choose to terminate some medications a private physician has prescribed.  The better the past medical history is documented upon arrival in prison, the more likely the chance of continuing the same treatment as in the outside world.

Dental

Ask your dentist to perform a cleaning and preventative care prior to incarceration. Dental care in prison is not fast (sometimes it is a 9 month wait or more) and the prisons are much more likely to pull a tooth as opposed to doing work to save it.  You do not want dental problems while in prison.

Medical Providers

Medical care is contracted to The University of Texas Medical School in Galveston for most of the East and South Texas area prisons.  In the Northern and Western sections of the state, care is provided by Texas Tech University Health Services Center in Lubbock.  These two institutions provide excellent care however, the quality of service provided at the the actual prison units is often inadequate and provided by a physician who is unable to work elsewhere or just doesn’t care. Some inmates are treated by a nurse or a physician’s assistant, at best, reserving a doctor only in extreme emergencies.  

Eye Care

If you wear prescription lenses you should bring a sturdy set of glasses with prescription lenses to prison with you.  Prison does not provide contacts and will not allow colored contact lenses. Inmates cannot refill their contact lenses through the prison commissary. There is an extremely long wait for eye exams and glasses through the prison system and many inmates are transferred to Galveston and then to an entirely different unit after their vision care.

Paying for Services

A law went into effect on September 28, 2011 which amended the fee charged to offenders for health care.  TDCJ is required to collect $100.00 from each offender who requests a visit to a health care provider.  Offenders will be charged a $100.00 fee for the first non-emergency health care visit.  This fee covers all health care visits for one year.  Any visit after the one year will incur another $100.00 annual fee. The fee will be deducted from the offender's trust fund account.  In the event there is no money in the trust fund account to cover the fee the law requires that fifty percent of each deposit into the offender’s trust fund account will be applied to the amount owed until the total amount is paid. Exemptions to the fee are: Mental health reviews initiated by the offender, Emergency visits, Follow-up visits, Chronic Care visits, Health screening and evaluation visits related to the diagnostic and reception process, prenatal visits, and health care services necessary to comply with State law and regulations.  By law, no offender will be denied access to health care as a result of a failure or inability to pay the fee although some inmates may believe that this doesn’t actually occur.  The fee is only assessed if an offender requests or initiates health care services.  If an offender does not initiate a visit then a fee should not be charged.

Also note that the payment of health care fees is not required as a condition for release.  Voting members of the parole board should not deny parole based on unpaid health services fees.

How Payments are Made

If the offender has less than $5.00 in their trust fund account, then nothing is taken from the balance.  However, 50% of all future deposits will be collected until the total amount is paid.  If the offender has $5.00 or more in their trust account, 50% of the balance or $100.00, whichever is less, is collected and, if necessary, 50% of all future deposits will be collected until paid in full.

Unit Care

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice provides only health services which they determined to be medically necessary.  Not all facilities offer ambulatory, medical, mental, or dental services.  
Click here to find the medical services offered at a particular TDCJ unit.  Click on the unit name and then scroll down to the Medical Capabilities section.

Parole Packet

People ask us "When is the best time to start preparing a Texas parole packet?"

Our answer is always the same.  Immediately.

We discuss the various parts of the packet in our book How To Prepare a Texas Parole Packet which is available as an automatic download or as a download and printed copy. As a bookstore, we can mail the printed copy to a prisoner at his unit or directly to you. Both the printed and digital formats include instructions, copies of the pertinent laws and examples and forms.

The post Medical and Dental Visits While in Prison appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

Summer is almost here and that means rising outdoor temperatures. The majority of Texas prisons do not have indoor air conditioning and are poorly ventilated in inmate living areas making conditions dangerously hot and humid.  I'd be willing to bet the inside temperature will top 100 degrees in units like Gurney in mid-to-late May. 

Twenty-two Texas inmates have died from the heat related issues since 1998, 11 of those deaths were during the 2011 heat wave.

All offenders should pay attention to the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke:

• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Hot, flushed, dry skin
• Rapid heart rate
• Decreased sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Nauseau
• Vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• Increase body temperatures
• Involuntary shivers
• Difficulty talking
• Forgetfulness orconfusion
• Loss of of conciousness

Offenders should take appropriate measures to stay cool and hydrated. TDCJ advises each inmate to drink at least two gallons of water on hot days. 

Texas state law requires all county jails to be air conditioned.  Many inmates moved from county jail to a TDCJ facility have trouble adjusting to a prison without air conditioning.

The excess heat drains energy from the body.  The only thing to look forward to other than "making store" is the possibility of making parole and getting out sooner.

The parole rates are higher than in recent years so why not take advantage of it and get the people inside started working on their parole packet?

Our parole book, How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet, is available as a download and as a a download with a printed copy that we can mail into the prison. Since we are a publishing company we are allowed to mail the books directly to the prisoners.

Both the printed and digital formats include instructions, copies of the pertinent laws and examples and forms.

If you are one of the people fortunate enough to be able to afford a Texas parole attorney for the process then we encourage you to do so, preferably one of the ones that advertise on this site. However, times are tough and we realize that many people can't afford a Texas parole lawyer but still want to increase their loved one's chances of making parole which is where our book How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet comes into play.

The post Temperatures Are Rising in Texas Prisons appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

Now, more than any, is the time to prepare a Texas parole packet.

By no means do we want to sound cruel and heartless but the simple fact is that at this point in time our legislators attentions are turned in other directions. Mandates from the federal agencies, disaster recovery issues, and an overall reduction in the amount of goods being produced in Texas will likely result in less tax dollars flowing through for a while which means less funding for things like prisons and prisoners.

Governor Abbott has indicated he won't be calling a special session of the Texas Legislature to deal with these issues or, more importantly, tapping into the Texas Emergency Fund, until at least 2019.

A reduction in the prison budget means, just as it has before, that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles will likely be granting more paroles and lowering their standards.

If you or your loved one are coming up on the time to submit your parole package, begin working on it NOW! The longer you have to work on it, the better it will be.

In addition, if you or your loved one are from one of the disaster zones it allows you a prime topic on which to play on the sympathy factor. Photos of the destruction in the neighborhood, letters of support from friends and relatives who can use the help the potential parolee can provide, as well as the family stability which is now needed can all be stresses (as explained in our book How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet).

Certainly, if a person isn't eligible anyway, then the parole board isn't going to break the rules but, as we've seen before, they will be much more lenient in releasing people when they don't have enough guards to guard the units, not enough support staff, and have a reduced budget.

As I said, we cover this type of strategy, as well as other ones, forms, and many other topics, in our book How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet.

Our free book, Understanding the Texas Parole Process, does a good job of explaining how the Texas system works but it does not explain how to prepare the parole packet. Attorneys are now charging $2500 and up for this packet which you can prepare yourself.  How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet provides easy, step-by-step instructions on preparing the packet and where to mail it.

The post Now Is the Time to Prepare Parole Packets appeared first on TexasParoleNow.com.

Statistics on Parole and Parole Revocations

Actually being granted parole is the hardest part of the parole process for most people. As

Electronic monitoring by Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

a matter of fact, the latest statistics from the  Texas Board of Pardons and Parole (TBPP) show a slight reversal in the trend of granting more paroles. The 2015 annual report shows the overall parole approval rate for FY 2015 was 35.13 percent while the 2016 annual report provides only 34.02 percent of the paroles were granted. (More on this at the end of this article.)

Many parolees, however, find completing their parole to be a difficult proposition as well. While the number of revocations has decreased from 18% in 2012 to 15.7% in the 2016 annual report. As soon as the 2017 numbers are finalized we will update this if there are any significant changes.

Standard Requirements and Conditions of Parole

All parolees have to meet certain requirements to avoid having a revocation filed. The official publication of the TBPP states, “Rules of release may include, but are not limited to the following:”

• Report as instructed to the supervising Parole Officer;
• Obey all municipal, county, state, and federal laws;
• Obtain the Parole Officer’s written permission before changing residence;
• Obtain the Parole Officer’s written permission before leaving the state;
• Do not own, possess, sell, or control any firearm, prohibited weapon, or illegal
  weapon as defined in the Texas Penal Code; do not unlawfully carry any weapon; and
  do not use or attempt or threaten to use any tool, implement, or object or threaten to
  cause any bodily injury;
• Avoid persons or places of disreputable or harmful character;
• Do not enter into any agreement to act as an “informer” or special agent for any law
  enforcement agency without specific written approval of the Parole Division; and
• Abide by any special conditions imposed by a Parole Panel, whether imposed upon
  release and listed on the release certificate or imposed at a later date.

Special Conditions

As the last point in the list explains, “special conditions” can be imposed by the parole board as well. The TBPP explains this as, “A Parole Panel may add special release conditions for any offender. The most common special conditions include; sex offender requirements, intensive supervision, electronic monitoring, drug monitoring (urinalysis), or mandatory participation in drug/alcohol treatment, educational programs, or psychological counseling. A Parole Panel may also impose other conditions deemed appropriate to the individual and in the interest of society, including payment of court-ordered restitution to victims. A Super-Intensive Supervision Program (SISP) special condition requires violent/assaultive offenders to be placed on an SISP caseload upon release from prison.”

A copy of these conditions and an agreement to abide by them is provided to the parolee and must be signed before they are officially on parole.

Every parolee of which we are aware, even those who have no indication of a drug history, are required to provide a urine sample for drug testing on a regular basis, normally at the time of their meeting with their parole officer. In addition, many/most parolees are visited at least once at their residence by the parole officer.

Repercussions of a Failure to Follow Conditions

The failure to abide by any condition, or to violate it in any way, can result in not only a revo

cation being filed and a “blue warrant” issued for the parolee’s arrest, but even a minor, technical violation can result in a return to prison.

Avoiding a Parole Revocation

One of the first things a parolee can do to avoid being revoked is to remain on good terms with their parole officer. This means being polite, being on time for meetings or appointments, and projecting a good image.

Many of these conditions are extremely easy to follow and are essentially just a matter of staying away from a bad environment an

d bad people. If a condition is violated the parolee may still be able to avoid being sent back to prison by taking steps to correct

the problems (such as asking for additional drug counseling if there was a “dirty” drug screen) and by showing contrition to the parole officer.

We’ll discuss more about what happens while on parole or after a revocation is filed in a future article.

How to Increase the Chances of Parole Being Granted

Unfortunately, many people are under the impression that the Texas Parole system works the way it does in the movies, when someone enters a room and the people who vote on whether or not they are to get parole have a Q & A session with the prisoner.

That’s incorrect. In Texas, it is much more likely that the person seeking parole will meet with a single person from the Parole Board and that person usually is a clerk that doesn’t even vote on the parole. All they are doing is confirming the information contained in the file, which has only what has been provided from the court proceedings and the police and/or District Attorney who handled the conviction.

Then, two voting members of the Parole Board will review the file and cast their vote. If there is a tie, a third member will review the file and vote and that vote will be the decision.

Since there is no personal interview, it is important that the file which is reviewed by the voting members contains not only the information from the prosecution but also any information which reflects in a positive way and which can be provided by the potential parolee and/or their friends and family.

That’s where our book, How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet (2018 edition), makes such a difference. We have developed a strategy and forms which will allow a person to prepare a packet of information to be considered by the members before they actually vote. The system is designed to change this from an impersonal decision based on pieces of paper, to a vote on the freedom of a person with a name, face, and a community who relies on them and is anxiously awaiting their return home.

As we point out in the book, voting members have a huge number of case files they have to process which means hey have only a few minutes per file to make their decision. Isn’t it important to make sure at least part of those few minutes are spent on the positive side of the person applying for parole?

How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet is available as an instantly downloadable e-book or as a “bundle” which includes the e-book as well as a printed copy. The printed copy can be mailed to the person at home and helping prepare the parole packet or the e-book can be used by them and the printed copy mailed to the person in prison. Since it comes directly from the publisher, the books are allowed to be shipped to the prison.

Original Intent of Website

Huntsville Prison. Huntsville, Texas

While this website was originally conceived to assist people who were further along in their sentence and preparing for parole, we quickly realized decisions made at the very beginning of the incarceration would have effects on the length of the actual time. First, we’re going to take a few paragraphs to discuss the changes in the Texas prison system and the numbers involved and then why that is important.

Good Time Credit in Prison

Everyone is likely familiar with the concept of “good time”, which is a type of reward given to prisoners who stay out of trouble and cooperate with the system. This can mean doing a job while in the facility (local jail or state prison), going to classes required by the facility, or getting a GED, etc.  In exchange for the person doing what they’re told while in custody, they receive credit for extra days. The local facility will give these good time credits based on the jail administrator’s rules. For example, many local jails give 3 for 1 credit for trustees, meaning that if a prisoner makes trustee not only do they get less time inside the cell but they may also be allowed to become a cook (a preferred job in jail since you get extra amounts to eat), go outside to do maintenance at a local government facilities (and being outside is preferred to remaining in a cell 24 hours a day), pick up trash on the side of the road, or other similar tasks.

The good time awarded by the jail facility is carried over to the TDCJ and after that the time varies but is usually 2 for 1 or 3 for 1.

Where this really comes into play is for parole eligibility purposes since on a non-aggravated offense a prisoner is eligible to be considered for parole when the time served plus any good time credits equals 25% of the sentence.

On an aggravated offense (also known as a 3g offense, called this due to the code section which established the rule), a person becomes eligible to be considered for parole after they have done 50% of their sentence without good time credit being considered. In other words, if a prisoner was sentenced to ten years on a 3g offense, they won’t be eligible to even be considered for parole until they have been incarcerated for 5 years. However, accumulating “good time”, or at least not getting into more trouble,  can make a difference in whether the parole is actually granted.

Texas’s New Approach to the Criminal Justice System

Texas has been working on a different approach to criminal justice than the hard line stance it used to embrace.

When the “War on Drugs” was in full swing in the 1990s and 2000s, the rate of prisoners increased by 346% from about 50,000 inmates in 1990 to about 173,000 in 2010. This is in contrast to the rest of the U.S. where the rate doubled. With these extra prisoners, the costs of incarceration rose along with the need for additional housing. The estimates to handle the housing alone was in the neighborhood of $523 million. Instead, three legislators got together and developed a treatment system for about half of the amount needed under the “lock ’em up” style of justice Texas had been practicing.

Amazingly, the new system worked, and prisoner numbers began to decline as did the crime rate. The number of prisoners had dropped to 168,00 in 2013 and down to around 142,000 by early 2018. More on the actual numbers and steps taken by the state can be found in this 2014 article by the Washington Post.

Recidivism and its Effect on Parole

A word that is thrown around a lot when discussing prisoners and the criminal justice system is “recidivism”, which Texas defines it as as a return to criminal or delinquent activity after previous criminal or delinquent involvement. The word and numbers are extremely important when the legislature and the system considers the numbers for people who have been incarcerated at least once. The good news is that the changes made in the system has reduced the rate from 28 % before the reform was enacted to 22.6 % by 2014. The hopes are, of course, that various changes in the system will allow that number to continue to decline.

As set forth in our book, How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet, the Parole Guidelines Score (a calculation made based on a variety of factors) is intended to assign a value to the potential parolee’s likelihood of recidivism. Therefore, any actions the incarcerated individual can take to better their score increases the chances of parole being granted. When the guidelines score is being calculated, the “static factors” are clearly centered around the likelihood to re-offend. While the “Dynamic Factors” focus more on what the individual has done to better themselves while in prison.

Engaging in conduct likely to grant the good time credits affects the first three of the 5 dynamic factors:

1. Education, vocational, and certified on-the-job training programs completed during the present incarceration
2. Prison disciplinary conduct
3. Current prison custody level
4. Offender’s current age
5. Whether the offender is a confirmed security threat group (gang) member

Classes While Incarcerated

Obtaining Good Time Credit is why we encourage any offender entering the prison system to immediately begin taking classes, whether they be the type of classes taught in a high school (ex. math or history), vocational classes where the offender learns a marketable skill (ex. television repair, culinary arts, landscaping, etc.), or if they do not have a high school diploma then the prisoner should speak with the unit’s counselor about taking the classes necessary to obtain a GED. While classes are limited, depending on what unit the offender is in, the Texas Department of criminal justice has its own school system the Windham School District.

As we discuss in How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet, any type of classes the offender can take, even the bible study classes offered at most unit prisons, will assist in showing the voting members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole that the offender is taking affirmative steps to improve themselves while incarcerated. In addition, many of the issues which arise during the sentence are caused by too much free time which increases the chances of  getting into trouble so using the time constructively serves several purposes.

Tool to Help Prepare Texas Parole Packet

TexasParoleNow.com would like to help you create a clear, organized, and well-written parole packet. Our book, How To Prepare A Texas Parole Packet, provides step-by-step instructions on completing a comprehensive parole packet. How to Prepare a Texas Parole Package is filled with easy to understand explanations and forms, including sample support letters, with each section of the book. How to Prepare a Texas Parole Package is available as a downloadable e-book in PDF format or as a bundle containing both a printed book (which can be mailed to an inmate) and also a downloadable PDF. The bundle will allow both the offender and someone on the outside to work together to prepare the packet.

2018 Edition of How to Prepare A Texas Parole Packet

The 2018 Edition of How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet is now available!

The new book contains updated information concerning:

• 2017 year-end statistics
• Parole board members
• Parole commissioners
• Address and phone changes for parole offices 
• Updated scores used in the Parole Guidelines Calculator
• Change in Risk Level Assessment for men
• New approval rates
• Plus more

Throughout the year we update the book with any new information we receive so any time you order a book you are assured of getting the latest version available. In addition, when we do a major update we send an email to everyone who has purchased during the relevant time period allowing them to download the latest version as well. This is done at no charge so our customers are always assured of having the best information as timely as possible.

How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet is available in ebook format as an instant download or in bundled form with an ebook and a printed book to be sent to an offender in prison.  Since we are an approved vendor there are no issues receiving our books at a Texas jail or prison.  

How Does A Parolee Get Home When Released From Prison?

We get a lot of questions from friends and family of incarcerated individuals. One question that recently came up was “How will my husband get home when he is paroled?”

This is an excellent question.

On the day the offender is to be paroled, the parolee will be taken to the nearest Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) contracted bus station with a bus voucher. The bus voucher instructs the transport company to take the parolee to the bus station nearest the parolee’s approved residence. In most cases the parolee is released in the county or city of his or her legal residence.

However, friends and family members may arrange to meet and pick up the parolee at the releasing site and drive the parolee to the approved residence.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice can release some parolees to a halfway house, treatment center, or other alternate facility if needed or if it is a condition of parole.

Prior to the parolee being released, the Institutional Parole Officer will interview the offender and family members to ensure the parolee has a suitable place to live once released.

Establishing a good “parole plan” is beneficial in helping the parolee reintegrate back into society. The parole plan specifies where and with whom the parolee will live, employment opportunities which can be pursued by the parolee or which are already in place, and support groups the parolee will attend.

Our book How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet contains beneficial information to help the offender, along with a friend and/or family members to create a comprehensive parole packet which includes a parole plan and increases the offenders chances of parole.

How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet is available as an instant download in an ebook or as a bundle with an ebook and printed copy. The printed copy can be mailed to you or to someone in prison so they can help prepare the parole packet.

Other than the inmate’s behavior, the most important factor in making parole is a well prepared Texas parole packet which emphasizes the strengths of the person who is incarcerated while at the same time offering a plan to handle any issues which the potential parolee may have upon release.

This is an area in which there are suddenly a huge number of people offering services or advice on what to do. Unfortunately, most of the advice is too general, too old, or not based on the law.

Preparing the parole packet is more than just throwing together a few letters and a bunch of handwritten notes and sending it to the parole board. Instead, the chances of making parole increase greatly if the packet is prepared in a certain format, with attention to details and with an awareness of what other materials the parole board will be considering.

That last sentence is important, because most of the parole packet services are being prepared by people with no legal background or education and with a minimal, at best, understanding of what they are trying to achieve. 

Records and statistics show that the voting members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles (TBPP) have only a few minutes to consider each of the parole applications up for review on each day. It is generally agreed the materials submitted by the prison and the courts are the first items to be reviewed. That means their initial impression of the candidate for parole will be colored by the crime itself plus that awful mugshot taken upon entering Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).

Writing a parole packet involves not only elements of the law, the statutes, but also psychology and a thorough understanding of how the system works. Our book, How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet, was written by an attorney with years of experience in the criminal justice system with input from a psychology professional. The “system” and forms in the book were designed to touch on the important elements which are to be considered in parole as well as to address and counter the other materials the voting members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles will be considering when making their vote.

As a matter of fact, some of the people now advertising that they will prepare a parole packet for your loved one have actually purchased our book and are using our system but are charging hundreds of dollars for the same thing you can do and probably do better since you are more familiar with the incarcerated individual. 

As we have always said, if you can afford to hire a Texas parole lawyer to help with parole then that is the best way to proceed but if you can’t then we feel the next best option is by using our book and system since it gives you the benefit of being written by someone with legal training and also enhanced by the use of the psychological techniques which allow you to present the materials in the method most likely to result in the granting of parole.

This process is too important and your money is too precious to trust it to someone who doesn’t have the training or the motivation of caring about the person in prison. Anyone can prepare a great parole packet by using the techniques and examples in our book!

How to Prepare a Texas Parole Packet, is available as an ebook or as a bundle including both the ebook for you and a printed copy that can be sent to you or can be mailed to the prison to the person who is seeking parole which gives them a chance to assist you in preparing their packet.