Hello all:

Many of you seem to have a specific actual working knowledge of just how TDCJ works. My question is, do they ever allow an out of state parole? Also, what would be the proper channels to go through to begin to find out about something like this? Is there a specific person within the Parole Dep't that could answer some questions? Whom would I contact??

My one and only pp is some 30-36 months away from parole consideration. Our relationship has begun to turn in the direction that MAYBE, and I do emphasize MAYBE, we would want to be together she gets out. I live in New England and it would be a lot easier for her to come to me than for me to uproot my entire life and move to a place I have never been, namely, Texas. She has nothing in Texas anymore and is willing to relocate. I am just trying to do some homework and lay the foundation, should this relationship continue in that direction.

I would imagine out of state parole is a real longshot. I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or advice from those who know TDCJ well.

Generally speaking, no they do not approve it on a regular basis.

It is very difficult to make parole on the first time in TX. I know people who have been up for parole 3 to 6 times and get a 1 year, 2 year, 5 year set off. This is typical of TDCJ.

It is even more difficult to get an interstate transfer for parole out of TDCJ.

__________________

Hi Bobby

Very few people make parole the first time in TX to make matters more difficult she and almost all women in TDCJ are under the Gatesville Board. If she has any prior parole or probation violations It is even more difficult . I would expect at least a two year set off in most cases depending on the offense . If it is a 3g or SB 45 offense they can get up to a five year set off . a SB 45 offense requires a 3/4 vote by the full board . If they are with in 2 years of thier discharge date often they get a serve all . though in the end they get out off paper that is a good . I was glad I maxed out !

When she does make parole she will be bound to the state of Texas .Some are on a very strict parole and bound to the county they parole to .

Interstate parole via the interstate compact out of TX is not easy to get usually the parole has to be from pout of state when convicted . The might let a person parole to family out of sate if they do not have a place to go to in TX and those people are willing to sponsor them .

They will definitely not allow her to parole to any one with a felony conviction regardless of how long ago .

If it is a drug or alcohol related offense the Gatesville board is very tough . If any one is granted parole on with those kind of convictions they will probably be on some sort of GPS monitor and have to submit to routine testing as well as unannounced testing .

Although I was not under the Gatesville board I was under Huntsville I saw guys who were doing time for murder make parole after their second time and a some one in on drug or alcohol related offense get set off after set off ! They view it as the drug or alcohol offender has a greater chance of re offending than some one convicted of robbery or murder . The US Dept of Justice studies and all studies done by universities and private “think tanks “ in fact show this to be true .

Most parolees have a “schedule” thy have to keep and show to their PO as well as proof they are maintaining their “schedule “ . It is very easy to have to your parole violated in TX . Depending on why you are violated it can mean a return to prison to finish your sentence. .TX also has Intermediate Sanction facilities (ISF) where they spend a much shorter amount of time locked up due to a violation .

When corresponding with any one in TX I would go into it with the expectation they will either max out or serve at least 75 % of their sentence as a general rule . Though some will serve more or max out . Despite popular belief TDCJ and BPP want most offenders to do some time on paper to see how they do and to make sure they have some supervision on release .

Here is the BPP site .

Board of Pardons and Paroles Home Page

Note the disclaimer the BPP has total discretion in determining parole . What this means is they do what ever tey damn well please . . Unlike most other states those guidelines are not binding in any way . Also is all but impossible to look at a offenders file . this is a long standing problem and concern . Another Note Any one can write a protest letter and they are given a lot of weight . The BPP has to by law meet with a victim/s or a murder victims surviving family members

A few organizations try to find out when offenders are being voted on and organize protest mass letters MADD is notorious for this . Once again these letters are not avialable to the offender . I think a constitutional violation of their 6 th amendment rights to face a accuser . I believe there is a case making it way though the courts on exactly this matter . I hope that a Obama appointed judge or judges overturns his rule he will be making few appointments in the 5th district if not more to the appeals court soon .


This way a person can read their file and see who has written in protest so they can challenge it. The premise /pretext is to protect the protest letter witter from retaliation . In reality it is a easy way for less than honest people to make life difficult for offenders .

If the offender could see who wrote the letter they could challenge it and it's credibility or possibly file charges it is false or based on retaliation /revenge to harass the offender . This is very likely in a system where the offer and or their legal representative cannot know if a protest letter was written and by whom .

There area few groups in TX that do this the try to find out who is up for parole and put it on the internet . Andy Kahan a well known very vocal so called "victims rights advocate" is big on nonsense like this. Technically by law only the offender their lawyer and the board and victim are supposed to know when a person is being reviewed it is very unwise to tell any one especially those you are doing time with or bosses . No one is supposed to make this public .

It is almost never made public when a offender is interviewed by IPO . The do not see a voter in person . Though a few voters have taken the time to talk to a offender .

Also going after that person almost never happens One might as well say they are guilty and want to do more time . Another reason victims need to stay out of the decision making process . Our Justices system is not a revenge and get even system .

__________________
The Constitution is not a Technicality!

Me

If you never have dreams they will never come true.

Somethings are worth fighting for !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2Ngn...eature=related


Money Talks !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgL8qqjOnlg

A special thanks to Skye and ASE. Even though I don't know Texas like you two do, I kind of knew the answer to my question even before I asked it. Having done time I know the drill with strict supervison and accountability when it comes to parole. Texas is not going to let her just wander off some 2,000 miles away from their control. They are certainly not going to release her to my custody. I live a good straight life now, but do have an armed robbery with violence conviction and a 15 year prison bit in my past.

My pp is due for parole in 2012, but with alcohol and two deaths being a factor, I can't imagine them letting her out on the first try. Especially since she has some prior arrests and jail time. With my letters I keep telling her to take advantage of all the help and programs they have to offer and let the chips fall where they may with regard to getting out early. That is completely up to someone else. I can't believe that Texas doesn't hold parole hearings with the offendor. They just read the file and vote independently? That's crazy.

When she gets out, she gets out. In the meantime all I can do is continue to write and be a source of encouragement. She has a seriously disfunctional family and doesn't receive a ton of support from them. She gets some help and visits from her Mom, but she has issues of her own.

Your welcome Bobby .

I forgot to add good time in TDCJ does not reduce the amount of time you serve . For some offenses non 3 g or SB 45, the offenders can earn good time towards their parole eligibility date . This often give offenders less reason to behave well and do what thy need to . If anything it makes TDCJ units more dangerous when some one starts to think thy have nothing to lose

The laws involving this were a emotional response to in particular Kenneth Mc Duff who was realsed from DR paroled kiled and raped many times and gfinalt executed in 1998 . He was a very evil homicidal man despite groupie tall BS I saw him on Ellis . In fact the laws involving tougher parole and no real good time are often called McDuff laws .

What happens when a offender in TDCJ is up for parole is the Institutional Parole Officer (IPO ) pulls their file and talks to the offender writes down stuff and types it into their file . Which then is sent to the board to be voted on .

There are six regional boards each has it's own reputation with Gatesville being the toughest

The offense you describe with priors and parole / probation violations makes it very unlikely she will be paroled any time soon . Sorry to be a downer but it is only fair you know the reality of her situation and likely hood of release . I don't mean to hurt any feelings .
if shed does make parole at some point it will be very strict .

Over all a sad case no matter how you look at it . Encouraging her and being a good understanding friend is all you can do and it does help Seeing you did time you do understand better than many people can ever know . My friends all say this to me . They know that often unless you do time it can be hard to understand their situation .

__________________
The Constitution is not a Technicality!

Me

If you never have dreams they will never come true.

Somethings are worth fighting for !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2Ngn...eature=related


Money Talks !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgL8qqjOnlg