The Charles Johnson Law Firm has been helping inmates obtain parole for 20 years. As a criminal parole lawyer, Attorney Johnson will not only help you at the parole hearing but will also guide you though the process of preparing you for the parole hearing. Houston Parole Lawyer Charles Johnson knows what programs an inmate should participate in to better increase their chance of parole as well as earning good time. He will help you make and execute an effective plan for early release.
Whether you or your loved one is being reviewed by the Texas Pardon and Parole Board or has been arrested on a parole violation and is facing a parole revocation, you will want an experienced and knowledgeable Texas parole attorney representing you. You can contact Houston Criminal Lawyer Charles Johnson directly anytime night or day at (713) 222-7577 or toll free at (877) 308-0100.
What is Parole?
PAROLE is the release of a inmate from the prison prior to the end of their jail sentence. Parole is often awarded to a inmate when the inmate has remained well behaved during their sentence and participated in many of the programs that are offered at the prison. When an inmate is sentenced to jail, that inmate can cut his jail time significanty by remaining out of trouble and activily participating in programs that will help in his rehabilitation. Early release can be achieved in the following two ways: first a defedant may be paroled or second an inmate can accrue good time while at the prison leading to a significant reduction of his or her sentence.
What is a Parole Lawyer?
A parole lawyer works with someone facing a parole hearing to help that person try to gain parole from the board overseeing the hearing. Parole lawyers may also represent clients as defense attorneys during legal proceedings and will sometimes stay with clients after the trial to help them during parole proceedings. Other parole lawyers may be hired by someone facing a parole hearing after a certain amount of time in prison and is looking for more extensive representation. A parole lawyer will also often help someone who has received parole in understanding what that person can and cannot due in terms of his or her parole.
Parole is the process by which someone who has been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in prison is able to be released from prison before the end of that time. Sometimes called “early release”, parole is often used as a means of reward for someone who demonstrates a real desire to change or improve himself or herself while in prison. It can also be used as a way of providing a form of reward for someone who demonstrates good behavior in prison.
What is the Parole Board and how does the Parole Board work?
The Parole Board in Texas is made up of six part-time members and has a full-time chairperson. The parole board is comprised of various professionals including but not limited to law enforcement, social work, medicine, and law. At a parole hearing, the parole board will review the file materials, will meet with the victims of the crimes, and then will have a hearing with the inmate. The inmate is allowed to present materials that may benefit him as well as bring his or her attorney. After reviewing all the material, the Parole Board will consider what is before it and vote on whether it should parole an inmate.
There are numerous factors that are taken into account when the parole board considers parole. The parole board will take into consideration all factors, from the the seriousness of the offense, the inmate’s prison behavior including what programs he or she has been involved with. The parole board will also consider the inmate’s proposed release plans. The parole board website also lists other considerations such as:
- seriousness of the offense
- length of sentence
- prior criminal record
- inmate’s behavior at the ACI
- programs the inmate has completed
- proposed release plans
- inmate’s attitude
- inmate’s behavioral changes
- community safety
- concerns of families and friends
- concerns of victims, and others.
Hire an attorney that will help your chance of being released from prison!
If you have an upcoming parole hearing, you may want to consider hiring a Texas attorney who has experience helping prisoners with parole hearings. Hiring an attorney for a parole hearing is not mandatory. Many prisoners rely on their own efforts or that of their family members to do the paperwork and presentation at the hearing. However, it may not be as effective as hiring an attorney who knows how the parole system works.
Inmates get very limited legal help after being sentenced. Often a good lawyer can advise them as to what they should do in order to be released early from prison. Many programs will give an inmate good time off the end of their sentence while at the same time greatly increasing their chance of parole. Do not risk missing a chance to be released early. Contact the Charles Johnson Law Firm today around the clock at (713) 222-7577 or toll free at (877) 308-0100.
Regardless of the reasons for parole, a parole lawyer typically focuses on the proceedings, laws, and systems behind parole in a given state within the United States (US). Each state is somewhat different in how it handles parole, and state bodies are established to govern parole hearings and how parole is issued. The US Department of Justice establishes certain practices and expectations for fairness in parole hearings, but the process is mostly performed at a state level.
A parole lawyer usually focuses on the specifics governing parole in the state he or she practices in. He or she may also know the people on parole boards and better understand how to work with them to ensure better chances of success for the person facing a parole hearing. While parole can certainly be received without a parole lawyer, having one often makes the process simpler and can increase the chances of receiving parole.
Much like probation, which is a form of supervised release rather than time in prison, parole will usually have a number of restrictions that must be observed by the parolee to avoid returning to prison. These can include avoiding certain people and activities, as well as observing travel restrictions. A parole lawyer can usually help a parolee better understand these rules and help him or her avoid returning to prison before the end of the parole period.
Selecting a Texas parole lawyer can be one of the most important decisions you make. Your chance at freedom is at stake. With any appearance before the Texas Pardon and Parole Board, it is important that you are fully prepared to answer questions that may affect the rest of your life.
Houston Parole Attorney Charles Johnson is fully prepared to handle all types of parole and pardon cases. Our legal representation is comprehensive and we are committed to providing you with knowledgeable, aggressive and experienced representation. Call our law office today and speak to Attorney Charles Johnson directly for your complementary case evaluation right over the phone. We can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us at 713-222-7577 or toll free at 877-308-0100 today.