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Digging around in some of my notes, I found a list of questions that was actually asked at an Oklahoma parole board meeting in 1998. This list can hopefully give anyone coming up for parole a better idea of what really goes on in a parole board hearing. So folks, prepare yourself.
I will put my comments in parenthesis, but the other text is real questions they asked the inmate and/or his wife or representative.
BTW, this inmate was not granted parole. He discharged his entire sentence in prison. He also said it took about a month from the day of the hearing to find out if he had made parole.
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They first asked the inmate about his offense----what was going through his mind and how he perceived himself at the time. They asked if he has taken responsibility for his crime. (Note----if you aren't 100% contrite and truly sorry for your crime, you will be denied. If you even give one scintilla of a hint that the system was not fair to you or that you were not guilty, kiss your parole chances goodbye. If there is a time you ever need to kiss *ss, it is during a parole board hearing.)
They asked the inmate about the victim of his crime. One remarked, "Do you fully realize that your offense negatively shaped the victim's life for years to come?"
They asked what he has learned about himself while in prison and could he apply it if he were granted parole. Also could he begin paying his court fines in a timely manner.
They asked the inmate which programs he took while in prison and how he thinks they may have helped him to rehabilitate himself. (They asked this inmate particularly about a RBT---Rational Behavior Training---program he took in prison and if he thought it was beneficial.)
They asked again, did he understand why he committed his offense.
They mentioned several prison misconducts this particular inmate received, his mindset when he committed the infraction, and what he learned from it. One board member asked him, "If you cannot even follow the rules in prison, what makes you think you can follow the rules of society if we grant you parole?"
His wife was given three minutes to address the board. She was asked if the inmate had a stable place to live and a possible job. They wanted to know if she was ready to take on the task to acclimate him back into society. They also asked her about her job and if they had some children. Also, how the incarceration has affected the children.
The inmate was asked to give a two or three minute statement. Here are some questions they directly asked the inmate----
"What have you learned about yourself in prison that makes you a good prospect for parole? Why should we grant you parole and release you??"
They asked the inmate, "What specific plans do you have upon release if we grant you parole?" They asked, "Where will your life be headed if we grant you parole?"
"What changes have you made and what have you learned about yourself to ensure us that you are a good candidate for parole? (I guess that same question was asked by two different parole board members.)
(Just reading these questions from different parole board members, it is obvious that they want to ensure that the inmate has stability in his life and that he will not re-offend.)
(Another inmate mentioned to me that the parole board he went before does not like prison tattoos, and it is best to cover them all up before going before the board. A nice haircut and a general look of cleanliness is also important. Many of the parole board members are older, conservative folks and they don't like tattoos or body piercing.)
One inmate told me they asked him about his tattoos and why he ever allowed someone to put so many tattoos on his body.
So mothers, wives, GFs, and family members, if your loved one goes before the parole board, these are some of the types of questions they will ask.
Hope this helps.
rewdiazepam
I will put my comments in parenthesis, but the other text is real questions they asked the inmate and/or his wife or representative.
BTW, this inmate was not granted parole. He discharged his entire sentence in prison. He also said it took about a month from the day of the hearing to find out if he had made parole.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They first asked the inmate about his offense----what was going through his mind and how he perceived himself at the time. They asked if he has taken responsibility for his crime. (Note----if you aren't 100% contrite and truly sorry for your crime, you will be denied. If you even give one scintilla of a hint that the system was not fair to you or that you were not guilty, kiss your parole chances goodbye. If there is a time you ever need to kiss *ss, it is during a parole board hearing.)
They asked the inmate about the victim of his crime. One remarked, "Do you fully realize that your offense negatively shaped the victim's life for years to come?"
They asked what he has learned about himself while in prison and could he apply it if he were granted parole. Also could he begin paying his court fines in a timely manner.
They asked the inmate which programs he took while in prison and how he thinks they may have helped him to rehabilitate himself. (They asked this inmate particularly about a RBT---Rational Behavior Training---program he took in prison and if he thought it was beneficial.)
They asked again, did he understand why he committed his offense.
They mentioned several prison misconducts this particular inmate received, his mindset when he committed the infraction, and what he learned from it. One board member asked him, "If you cannot even follow the rules in prison, what makes you think you can follow the rules of society if we grant you parole?"
His wife was given three minutes to address the board. She was asked if the inmate had a stable place to live and a possible job. They wanted to know if she was ready to take on the task to acclimate him back into society. They also asked her about her job and if they had some children. Also, how the incarceration has affected the children.
The inmate was asked to give a two or three minute statement. Here are some questions they directly asked the inmate----
"What have you learned about yourself in prison that makes you a good prospect for parole? Why should we grant you parole and release you??"
They asked the inmate, "What specific plans do you have upon release if we grant you parole?" They asked, "Where will your life be headed if we grant you parole?"
"What changes have you made and what have you learned about yourself to ensure us that you are a good candidate for parole? (I guess that same question was asked by two different parole board members.)
(Just reading these questions from different parole board members, it is obvious that they want to ensure that the inmate has stability in his life and that he will not re-offend.)
(Another inmate mentioned to me that the parole board he went before does not like prison tattoos, and it is best to cover them all up before going before the board. A nice haircut and a general look of cleanliness is also important. Many of the parole board members are older, conservative folks and they don't like tattoos or body piercing.)
One inmate told me they asked him about his tattoos and why he ever allowed someone to put so many tattoos on his body.
So mothers, wives, GFs, and family members, if your loved one goes before the parole board, these are some of the types of questions they will ask.
Hope this helps.
rewdiazepam
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