When someone is serving a prison sentence in Georgia, parole can be one of the most important parts of the case. Families often want to know when their loved one may be considered, what the Parole Board looks at, and whether anything can be done to help. Georgia parole law can be confusing because parole is not the same as an appeal, a new trial, or a courtroom hearing.
In most cases, the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles reviews the person’s file, considers written information, and decides whether parole should be granted, denied, or reviewed again later. The Board explains that it draws information from sources such as courts, police, prison records, and the community when making parole decisions.
At The Law Firm of Abbi S. Taylor, we help families understand the Georgia parole process and prepare organized, thorough, and insightful parole presentations. The goal is to make sure the Board has clear, accurate, and helpful positive information about the incarcerated person and their accomplishments and plans for the future, when the case is reviewed.
Who decides parole in Georgia?
Parole decisions are made by the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. The Board has complete discretion on whether or not to grant parole.
Is parole automatic?
No. Even when someone is eligible for parole, release is not guaranteed. The Board states that most Georgia inmates have a right to be considered for parole, but they do not have a right that requires release. They state that parole is a privilege, not a right.
Does Georgia have parole hearings?
Georgia parole decisions are not handled like courtroom hearings. The Board reviews the case file prepared by their investigator and submitted information from an attorney, if any, as well as the Crime Severity Level (CSL) and guidelines for that CSL.
What is a PED?
A PED is a Parole Eligibility Date. It does not mean it is when anyone gets released. It means one third of the person’s prison sentence (or 9 months if they have a 2 year sentence or less). If the person’s sentence is longer than 20 years, the PED is 7 years. Prior to or at PED, the Board will determine the person’s TPM.
What is a TPM?
A TPM is a Tentative Parole Month. It is not a final parole decision. It means the Board will complete a final review and, if appropriate, set a parole release date.
Can a lawyer help with parole?
Yes. An experienced lawyer can help review the case, identify missing or inaccurate information, gather helpful records, organize support materials, and prepare a structured parole presentation. The lawyer can correct credit for time served before sentencing, incorrect decisions in the Board decision and make sure that the Board has an accurate account of the person’s history, the incident and their future plans.
Parole allows a person to serve part of a prison sentence in the community under supervision. It does not erase the sentence. It does not overturn the conviction. It is a form of supervised release.
In Georgia, parole is handled by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. After sentencing, the court’s role usually ends, and the parole process becomes a separate review handled by the Board. The Board reviews information about the offense, the sentence, the person’s history, prison conduct, programming, risk factors, and release plans.
For many families, the most important thing to understand is this: Georgia parole is largely a file-based process.That means the Board is often making decisions based on what is in the file and what is submitted for review. If the file is incomplete, outdated, confusing, or missing important context, that can cause the incarcerated person to spend years longer in prison.
Parole eligibility means a person may be considered for parole. It does not mean the person will be released.
The Board’s FAQ explains that most parole-eligible Georgia inmates become statutorily eligible for parole consideration after serving one-third of their prison sentence, but eligibility depends on the sentence and the type of offense.
Some cases have special rules. Some offenses may require more time to be served. Some people may not be eligible for parole at all. Life sentences and serious offenses may involve different review timelines.
This is why families should be careful about relying on general information online. The parole timeline depends on the specific sentence, offense, date of sentence, criminal history, and Georgia parole guidelines that apply to the case.
The Board may consider many different types of information, including:
The Board’s own materials explain that it gathers knowledge from multiple sources, including courts, police, prison, and society. The Board does not gather any positive information on the incarcerated person.That is one reason parole preparation should be thorough and well organized. The Board may already have a large amount of information.
A parole presentation should not simply repeat emotional requests for release. It should help organize the case in a clear and useful way.
In a courtroom, a lawyer can often speak directly to a judge. In Georgia parole consideration, the process is different. The parole file is the center of the review.
That file may include information about the conviction, sentence, criminal history, prison conduct, programming, disciplinary history, and other records. It may also include information that is incomplete, outdated, or misunderstood.
An experienced parole lawyer may be able to help by reviewing the available information, identifying concerns, gathering helpful documentation, and presenting the strongest available facts in a professional format.
The point is not to overwhelm the Board with volume. The point is to make the important information easy to understand.
A Georgia parole presentation is an organized submission prepared for parole review. It may include information about the person’s background, accountability, rehabilitation, conduct in prison, programming, treatment, education, work history, release planning, and support system. Every individual is different and their presentation is unique to their situation.
A strong parole presentation may address:
This is different from a casual letter-writing campaign. Family support can matter, but it should be presented in a way that supports the larger parole review. A strong parole presentation should be honest, organized, and grounded in the facts of the case.
A Georgia parole lawyer can help families understand what stage the case is in and what information may be helpful before the Board reviews the case.
A lawyer cannot guarantee parole. The Board makes that decision. But a lawyer can help make sure the information submitted is clear, complete, and focused on the factors that matter.
Depending on the situation, a lawyer may help:
Families often hear parole terms before they fully understand what they mean.
A PED, or Parole Eligibility Date, is the date when the person may become eligible for parole consideration. It does not mean release will happen on that date.
A TPM, or Tentative Parole Month, is also not a final release date. The Board explains that a TPM is when it will complete a final review and, if appropriate, set a parole release date. A TPM may depend on good conduct or completion of certain programs.
The Board may also deny parole or reconsider a case later. For non-life sentence cases, the Board may establish a TPM or deny parole entirely at the time of consideration. The Board also states that it may reconsider and change a prior decision for any reason, at any time, up to the date of release.
That is why it is important to understand where the case stands before deciding what to submit.
Parole and appeals are different.
An appeal, habeas corpus case, or other post-conviction matter usually focuses on legal errors, constitutional issues, or challenges to the conviction or sentence.
Parole focuses on supervised release.
The Parole Board is not deciding whether the person was wrongly convicted. It is deciding whether the person should be released under supervision based on the sentence, offense, conduct, risk factors, rehabilitation, and release plan.
In some cases, a person may have both parole questions and post-conviction questions. But they should not be confused. The strategy for parole is different from the strategy for an appeal.
A parole denial can be devastating for a family. But a denial does not always mean there is nothing left to do.
Reconsideration may be appropriate when there is new information, corrected information, additional rehabilitation, improved institutional conduct, a stronger release plan, or meaningful developments that were not previously presented.
If the Board has already denied parole, the next submission should usually offer something useful, new, better organized, or more complete.
A lawyer can help review what happened, what may be missing, and whether a reconsideration request makes sense.
Families often want to help but are not sure what to do. Thebest first step is usually to get organized.
Helpful family support may include:
The strongest support is usually practical. The Board needs to know what life would look like if the person is released. A clear plan can be extremely helpful.
If your loved one is being considered for parole in Georgia, you do not have to guess your way through the process.
The Law Firm of Abbi S. Taylor, known as The Parole Goddess, helps families understand Georgia parole law, parole eligibility, TPMs, Board review, and parole presentation materials.
We can review the situation, explain what may be helpful, and help prepare a focused submission for the Board.
Contact The Law Firm of Abbi S. Taylor to discuss your loved one’s parole situation and what steps may be available.
The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles is a five-member panel assigned the power to grant pardons, paroles, and other forms of clemency. The Board has discretion to release inmates from imprisonment once an inmate has served part of his or her prison sentence.
The Parole Board uses Parole Decision Guidelines when determining whether or not an inmate should be released on parole. The Guidelines, also called the “grid system, weigh an inmate’s crime severity and his or her likelihood of success on parole”.
The Parole Board also has the sole constitutional authority in Georgia to commute death sentences to either life imprisonment or life without parole.
In Georgia, inmates serving a felony sentence in prison are automatically considered for parole by the time they reach their Parole Eligibility Date (PED) which is one-third of their prison sentence. No application is necessary. An inmate will be considered for parole even if the inmate’s case is on appeal.
Certain inmates are not eligible for parole. These cases include the following:
When considering parole, the Parole Board will review a recommendation of months, or a percentage of the sentence, that the inmate should serve. The recommendation is based on the Parole Decision Guidelines, which weighs the severity of the crime, the likelihood of reoffending, and the offender’s criminal and social history.
The Parole Board will then make a decision regarding the release date, which is called a Tentative Parole Month (TPM). However, a TPM is not a final decision. The Parole Board will complete its review of the case file and determine whether to set a release date at the TPM.
In Georgia, inmates may appeal parole decisions under two circumstances.
First, an inmate may ask the Parole Board to reconsider its decision if parole was denied, or they may ask for an earlier reconsideration date. A request for reconsideration will not be granted, however, unless the inmate has new and compelling information for the Parole Board.
Second, an inmate can request the Parole Board to correct an error in its calculation under the Parole Decision Guidelines. This request can be made if, for example, the Parole Board made an error in the risk to reoffend or an error in the crime severity level.
Individuals who are eligible for parole are not required to hire an attorney, however, hiring a parole attorney can help your chances of receiving a favorable parole decision. The Parole Board will review information provided by law enforcement, the prosecution, court officials, victims and the Georgia Department of Corrections. If you do not have a parole attorney, the Parole Board will not have the positive information you want them to consider.
A parole attorney can ensure that favorable information is shared with the Parole Board. For example, a parole lawyer can help ensure that your file contains accurate and positive information, challenge inaccurate material, and request reconsideration of previous decisions.
In Georgia, the Parole Board does not hold hearings before making parole decisions and does not allow people in prison to go before the Board to argue their case. The members of the Parole Board review each parole file individually, then each member casts his or her vote to grant or deny parole. The Board does not meet as a group to make parole decisions. Does a life sentence really mean a life sentence?
No, the Board does not currently conduct any in person hearings.
We can never guarantee that we will be successful and that your loved one will get parole, but we will work hard to the very best of our ability to reach a favourable decision. We have a very good success rate and evaluate a case before being hired. We do our very best to ensure that your loved one’s voice is heard and that all positive information and background is considered.
A loved one can earn Performance Incentive Credits by completing their case plan, working on some of the work details and other educational programs. Each point, up to 12 PIC points, can be awarded by the Board to take one month per point off of the established TPM. However, PIC points are discretionary, just like parole. The Board can choose to award credit for some, all or none of the person’s PIC points.
The family should contact a parole attorney straight away.
If you have questions about parole or other post-conviction proceedings, we are here to help. Contact us today to schedule a case evaluation.
Over the years, we have had the honor of defending hundreds of clients in court and parole hearings. Here are just a few things they have to say about us.
Abbi is an amazing lawyer. We hired her for my dad’s parole/probation case. Abbi’s results exceeded our family’s expectations. Seeing her in action in the courtroom was inspiring. In addition, her office staff is extremely professional and responsive. Thank you, Abbi and Linda.
I originally retained Abbi to represent me before the State Board of Pardons and Parole and help me obtain an early parole date for a level 8 criminal conviction. While the Parole Board's guidelines for my crime required me to serve at least 65% of my sentence, the Parole Board granted me parole approximately 6 months early. I attribute this to the unwavering support of my family and Abbi's considerable efforts.
If I could rate Abbi Taylor@ 100 stars I would. Thank you Abbi Taylor and your staff for your professionalism, hard work and legal expertise in representing me. Your successful results with my being granted early parole was beyond all my expectations. I am thrilled and so grateful to be back home with my family and much earlier than I ever could have hoped for.
Abbi knows her stuff, is patient, thorough and compassionate. She took the time to explain the parole process in detail and provided support before, during and after the decision. I am very happy with the outcome but also the professionalism and responsiveness from Abbi and Linda. I Highly recommend this firm!
I came to Ms Taylor thinking that my criminal background was destroyed. I'm a responsible adult that made a bad decision at a very emotional time in my life. This lady has a great interaction with her clients. I was able to feel free to express what and why I needed her services. Sharp doesn't begin to describe her. I will never forget that she was sent by God to help me. You can not go wrong with Ms Taylor.
I can not speak more highly of Abbi and her abilities. I was finding myself very quickly in a quicksand situation and she was able to help come in to provide guidance, clarity and manage the situation. If you find yourself in a situation that you think even for a second might need some legal advice - please do not think to call anyone else but Abbi.
Contact our office today to begin the process of scheduling an initial case evaluation. Prior to scheduling your case evaluation, we will require the receipt of all necessary documents. Case evaluations are $250 and will be credited toward the cost of representation.
To assist us in developing the BEST strategy for your case, we need to review pertinent documents.
Our process is simple:
- You provide the necessary documents
- We evaluate the case status and strengths
- We present strategies for achieving your goals
In a 30-minute session, we provide an explanation of the relevant proceedings, help you prioritize available options, and provide a road map to move forward with our representation, including details about possible fees.
The meeting fee is non-refundable but will be credited if we are hired.
If you need assistance in gathering the necessary documents, please contact documentretrievals@gmail.com. The fees for this service are not affiliated with our representation.
This is a separate business that we use to obtain documents.
Suite 200, Kyleif Center
1479 Brockett Road
Tucker, GA 30084
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