AGOVA - Victim Info-Snippets

How To Protest Parole

1. When you receive the notice of the parole hearing for the offender in your case, first notify AGOVA, then contact the District Attorney, the police officer or sheriff who investigated the crime, friends, and family members. Request that they write a protest letter to the Parole Board on your behalf. If you have been seen by a therapist/counselor, it would be beneficial for them to write a letter as well, noting how the crime affected your well being.



2. The parole board welcomes petitions. Those who do not write a personal letter will almost always sign a petition. At the top of the page, you need to reference the inmate's name and AIS number, give a brief summary of the crime stating when and where the crime occurred, and of course, the victim's name. Make several copies so that they can be taken to your work place, the work place of your spouse, parents, children, friends, etc., where you attend church, and any other places you feel appropriate. Have people sign their name and address. It is better for you not to mail the petitions, but bring them with you to the hearing.



3. IMPORTANT! The notice you will receive states, "It is not required that you be present...." While it is not required and you may protest by writing a letter, it is not nearly as effective as being there in person.



4. Many cases are scheduled each Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - all at 9:00 a.m. The hearings are heard in the order that you sign in. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.; however, people start lining up as early as 6:30 to 6:45 a.m. Late registration means that you will spend the better part of the day waiting for your hearing.



5. The hearings are informal. You will speak directly to the three Board members. There are no restrictions as to the number of people who wish to speak or how long a hearing may last. The Board realizes that for victims, this is the first time they have been heard. In court, the victim and/or victim's family has little opportunity for any input, and often it seems that no one is concerned about the heartache and trauma you experience. At the parole hearings, you may say as much or as little as you wish.



6. As a general rule, inmates are not allowed to attend their hearings. For exceptional cases, inmates on Work Release, Supervised Intensive Restitution (SIR), or Pre-Release Discretionary Leave (PDL) may attend their hearing if they get special permission from the board. No sex offenders, under any circumstances, may attend their hearing.



7. This hearing may be a traumatic and anxious time for you. Many victims have expressed concern that they forgot to tell the board everything they wanted to express. If you feel that it will be difficult for you to remember everything, write it down in letter form so that you can read it to the Board in the hearing. You can also give the letter to the board to be permanently placed in the inmate's file.



8. Inmates' files for the Parole Board are highly confidential and may only be viewed by the Board members and their staff. Nothing in the folders will be revealed to any inmates, their families, their attorneys, or to any victims or the District Attorney.



9. It is imperative that you inform the Parole Board of any change of address or name change. Parole notification is not merely a courtesy, it is the law. Any changes to update the records, though, are the victim's responsibility.



10. The Board of Pardons and Parole has no jurisdiction whatsoever concerning where an inmate is incarcerated or what their classification (i.e. Work Release, SIR, or PDL) will be. Your concerns with regard to these matters should be addressed to the Department of Corrections at (334) 353-3870.