Almost all inmates incarcerated in prisons around the world are biding their time, waiting for the day when they have a parole hearing. This is a chance to convince administrators that their rehabilitation has been successful, and they are ready to rejoin society.
This is a very important event which only comes around every two or three years, so the most has to be made of it whenever a parole hearing is scheduled. The big question for every inmate is whether to conduct their own representation during the hearing, or to have a professional represent them. You can find out exactly what a parole attorney is charged with if you go here, but we’ll be summarizing those tasks in the present discussion as well.
Thorough research
One of the advantages of hiring a parole attorney to represent you at a hearing is that they will conduct exhaustive research into your case, so they are fully aware of why you were imprisoned, and why you should now be granted your release from prison.
This kind of research can be decisive in presenting tailored legal arguments that your attorney will make before the board on your behalf. There is considerable research to be done before a parole attorney can adequately represent your case to the parole board, and it will generally include some or all of the following areas:
- whether you took a plea deal or were actually convicted by the court
- what kind of support system you have outside the prison
- your entire personal history, including any involvement with drugs, alcohol, or spousal abuse
- any prior criminal history that is part of your permanent record
- the initial charges that were brought against you.
Your parole attorney will also thoroughly review any police information that was compiled and used to convict you. It’s possible that there may be omissions in the police report, or there could be inaccuracies that can be turned to your advantage by an alert parole attorney.
If any of these omissions or inaccuracies led to you being found guilty, there’s a fair chance at least that it can be overturned by a competent attorney. At any rate, this kind of thorough research will definitely be to your advantage at a parole board hearing. Hopefully, it will be able to make use of some solid reasons why you should be granted your freedom, so that you can serve out the remainder of your time in society rather than in prison.
Request a meeting with the lead voter
If your parole attorney thinks it advisable, he/she can request a meeting with the parole board’s lead voter. These meetings are generally granted as a professional courtesy to the attorney representing an inmate at a hearing. In some cases, it can be critical in helping to present all the facts of your case to a parole board, so that nothing gets overlooked.
In a meeting like this, your parole attorney can directly ask the lead voter about the board’s fears or reservations in setting you free. This can then help your lawyer to figure out the best way of customizing your parole packet, so as to deal with these concerns and reservations. The whole point of course, is to get board members to vote in your favor and grant you the release you are seeking.
Requesting a voter meeting like this can also serve as a foundation for sincerely expressing your regret about any crime committed, as well as your commitment to a new lifestyle. The lead voter can then pass along the details brought up by your parole attorney to other board members, so they can all be fully aware of your circumstances.
By the time you appear before the full board, they should already be acquainted with some details of your case, and they may even be more inclined to vote favorably for you.
Customized representation
Every inmate who goes before a parole board has a unique case, and therefore will require a unique representation from a parole attorney. It’s very likely that the reasons for you to be granted your freedom will be very different from all other inmates, so it’s necessary for your parole attorney to work with you and establish definite personal criteria for your release.
Any arguments made by your parole attorney to the parole board have to be personalized to your case in order to have any relevance. An experienced parole attorney will recognize this and will make every effort to show the parole board why you deserve to be released. Any parole attorney worth his/her salt will avoid using the one-size-fits-all approach and will have a completely customized approach to presenting your case to the parole board.
Any concerns that the board might have about setting you free should be answered in a packet of information which is gathered by your parole attorney. This customized approach can be the most important single aspect of your hearing before a parole board. If managed correctly, it will show exactly why you deserve to be granted parole, and what makes you a good candidate for having earned this privilege.
When you hire a parole attorney to represent you, it will automatically ensure that the board considers your case seriously and will take note of any unique circumstances associated with your case.
Should you hire a parole attorney?
If there’s any way you can possibly afford it, you should definitely hire a parole attorney prior to a board hearing which considers granting you your release. It certainly is not a requirement for anyone to have a parole attorney present at a board hearing, but it will almost always improve your chances of being granted freedom, because an attorney will be more thorough in their approach to pleading on your behalf.
Your parole attorney will also be allowed to bring in friendly witnesses who can help support your case. They can show board members that you have a good support system outside prison, and that you are entirely capable of serving out the remainder of your sentence in society rather than in prison.
All the important tasks associated with a hearing before a parole board should be undertaken by a good parole attorney. By hiring one well in advance of your hearing, you have the best possible chance of convincing a parole board to terminate your prison sentence and granting you your freedom.