Parole Process for Victims

In order to ensure timely notification to victims of parole hearings or of an inmate’s release on parole, address changes must be provided to the Board as soon as possible. Contact the Department of Corrections' Office of Victim Services Victim Advocate at 401-462-0381 or the Parole Board Office (401) 462-0900.

Scales of Justice

 

Rhode Island law gives victims of crime the right to notice and an opportunity to address the Parole Board (in writing or in person) regarding the impact of the crime. The Board may, in its discretion, permit the parent and/or legal guardian of a victim who is a minor at the time of the hearing to address the board on behalf of the minor. This law defines ‘victim’ as one who has sustained personal injury or loss of property directly attributable to the criminal conduct for which the inmate has been incarcerated” (RI General Laws 12-28-6). In homicide cases, a member of the immediate family of the deceased victim may address the Parole Board.

 

Victim Input

Information from a victim of crime (or immediate family members of a minor or deceased victim of crime) helps the Board to understand and appreciate the effects of the crime and on the victims. Input from victims often times provides information that might otherwise not be available.

Please contact the Department of Corrections' Office of Victim Services Victim Advocate at 401-462-0381 or call the Parole Board office (401) 462-0900 if you wish to submit a letter or wish to schedule a meeting with the Board to provide an impact statement. Inmates are not present at victim meetings, and the meeting gives victims the opportunity to ask the Board questions. In this way the victims gain a better understanding of the parole process and the prison systems. If an inmate is granted parole release, the victim input could inform conditions placed on the inmate's parole release.

If you are a victim of crime who wishes to submit an impact statement to the Parole Board, please contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

NO. Parole release is discretionary and a parole hearing is an opportunity to be considered for parole, it is not an automatic guarantee of parole release. Sometimes the Parole Board could grant parole at the first hearing OR the Board could deny parole and then make a determination whether or not to reconsider the inmate in the future.

MAYBE. If parole is denied at the initial hearing, the Board has discretion to consider whether and/or when the Board might reconsider an inmate in the future. To make this determination, the Board could consider the length of sentence, risk, institutional record, parole plan and other considerations.

YES. Notice of a parole consideration hearing or a future reconsideration hearing is mailed to the victim(s) on file for the case(s) at last known addresses. To ensure notification of parole consideration hearings or release, address changes must be provided to the Board as soon as possible. A parole eligibility list is also posted each month on the website.

The Board considers a host of factors including the nature and seriousness of the offense, victim impact, criminal history, institutional adjustment and disciplinary record, behavioral changes, efforts at rehabilitation, risk assessments(s), release plan, community safety and treatment needs to name a few.

The inmate is provided a written notice of the Board's decision through their institutional counselor. Victims can obtain information about a parole decision by contacting the Parole Board at (401) 462-0904 or (401) 462-0902. Redacted minutes of all hearings are published to the RI Secretary of State website (Open Meetings section).

YES. There are several conditions parolees must follow, including but not limited to being of good behavior, no alcohol or drug use, reporting to an assigned parole officer, not leaving the state without permission, and maintaining a steady home and work plan. The Parole Board may also add special parole conditions such as GPS Monitoring, no contact with victims, counseling or other treatment that address the safe and successful re-entry of the offender.

If a parolee violates any condition of parole, including arrest for a new charge, the Parole Board through its chairperson can impose a sanction or issue a warrant for their arrest. Upon arrest, the parolee will be returned to the ACI for a parole revocation hearing before the Parole Board.

 

If you have any questions or need additional information you may Contact Us or review the Resources page for further information.