How To Create A Successful Parole Packet

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What The Parole Board Really Needs To See

Being eligible for parole review by the Parole Board is one of the most exciting and anxiety producing seasons in the life of an incarcerated person and those who love and support them. After all, should the Board vote favorably on your Loved Ones file they could be back in your arms, eating Whataburger, within a few months. I have yet to meet anyone in the prison system who is not praying for a positive parole vote, so how do you create a parole packet that shows you are ready?

The Wizard Of Oz Approach

Many who are parole eligible approach the review process as if the Great and Powerful Oz is arbitrarily making decisions and affecting lives. With this approach parole feels mysterious and inconsistent at best. It would serve us well to remind ourselves that those who have been placed in decision making positions are people, people who must consider whether an individual has served enough time on their sentence, poses a threat to society, and has an opportunity for success upon release. I certainly would not want to have to make those decisions. The Parole Board is NOT the Great and Powerful Oz, the Board is made up of people. Remembering this enables us to present our best case for a positive vote using a human approach not a systematic one.

What Parole Really Needs To See

1. Ownership and Sincere Remorse

When I was a child I hated getting in trouble. I remember one time my dad caught me watching a TV show I was not supposed to watch. I cried and sobbed out, "I'm sorry," in effort to avoid being disciplined and my dad asked me: "Trent, are you sorry for disobeying, or are you sorry you got caught?" The truth was, I was sorry I got caught. When preparing a packet for parole to see, I must include ownership of the poor choices I made, and show sincere remorse for criminal activity I committed. If I am not accepting responsibility for my choices, if I am blaming others for where I am, I am not showing Parole that I am ready to be released. Am I sorry for what I did, or am I sorry I got caught?

2. During Incarceration

The next major component Parole must see is what I have elected to do with my time incarcerated. Some inmates seem to view incarceration as an extended vacation from life. There are opportunities to play games, watch TV, and workout. There is nothing wrong with leisure activity, but when the day comes and I need to show how I have grown and changed as a man I cannot present blue ribbons in prison handball tournaments and expect this to demonstrate my growth and development. The Board needs to see documented academic, social, emotional, and spiritual growth during this incarceration period. Have I signed up for classes? Have I earned higher education? Have I made myself employable with trades or on-the-job training? Have I grown as a person or have I simply had more birthdays? You must present to the Board what you have elected to do with your incarceration. Everyone who sees Parole will say, "I've changed." This is how you SHOW it, not just say it.

3. Upon My Release

Finally, Parole needs to see that your Loved One has a plan for the future. Things change, but it is critical to present a plan that includes the address your LO will be released to, transportation, employment, clothing, food, and social support. Transitioning to the outside world demands a support system of some kind. Parole must see that there is a release plan. Friend, a person, a human being is deciding whether your Loved One will be granted parole or not. What would YOU need to see in order to trust that a paroled stranger could move in next door to you and your family? What changes would help YOU grant parole to someone who was potentially being released from prison? After we have done our best, we rest in faith and trust that ultimately God is in control. You've got this! Remember, no matter what, always declare: I Choose Hope!

Like Trent's blog? Subscribe to his monthly newsletter at ichoosehope.substack.com.

Contact Trent directly by creating a Securus e-messaging account at SecurusTech.net or on the Securus App. You'll need his full name, State, and facility (Trenton Blythe, Texas, Texas Department of Criminal Justice). He'd love to hear from you!

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