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Parole 101
The last step in a criminal case is just as important as the first step, which often involves the Board of Pardons and Parole.
The parole board determines when an incarcerated person may have a parole hearing and whether a person will be released from prison. In Utah, the parole board uses a guideline to make these determinations, but it may deviate from the guidelines on a case-by-case basis. This means that people with the same sentences for the same crimes can have different outcomes, notably in incarceration length.
Parole board determinations in Utah are final and cannot be appealed. Additionally, lawyers or other advocates for a parolee can only appear in particular circumstances. This limits a person’s ability to sufficiently represent themselves at a hearing and precludes challenging a seemingly unjust or inconsistent decision.
Fair parole hearings and consistent decisions are essential to respect a person’s rights and create successful outcomes for re-entry into the community.
The parole board determines when an incarcerated person may have a parole hearing and whether a person will be released from prison. In Utah, the parole board uses a guideline to make these determinations, but it may deviate from the guidelines on a case-by-case basis. This means that people with the same sentences for the same crimes can have different outcomes, notably in incarceration length.
Parole board determinations in Utah are final and cannot be appealed. Additionally, lawyers or other advocates for a parolee can only appear in particular circumstances. This limits a person’s ability to sufficiently represent themselves at a hearing and precludes challenging a seemingly unjust or inconsistent decision.
Fair parole hearings and consistent decisions are essential to respect a person’s rights and create successful outcomes for re-entry into the community.
Why Parole Reform?
Why Parole Reform?
We need parole reform so that people who have been rehabilitated can return to their families and communities. We need this reform now so that people can lead productive lives in the community instead of growing older and sicker in prison, losing opportunities for reentry, and living in limbo at the mercy of the parole board.
H.B. 290 Probation and Parole Amendments
UPDATE: H.B. 290 has been signed into law!
Utah has the second-fastest growing prison population in the country. This growth is fueled by revocations from community supervision, which means people already on probation or parole are going to prison in high numbers. In fact, a recent report found that 53% of people entering Utah prisons in FY2020 were already on parole, and another report found that Utah spends about $75 million each year from community supervision revocations. This is a high cost for taxpayers, but an even higher cost for those needlessly sent to prison.
About 18,000 Utahns are on probation or parole. As recently as 2017, almost 80% of people entering Utah prisons were on probation or parole. And about half of those people went to prison for a "technical violation". These violations happen when a person breaks a rule of their supervision agreement but does not commit a new crime. These can be simple mistakes like missing a probation appointment or a common struggle like not getting a job. Everyday, thousands of Utahns are one simple mistake or common struggle away from being sent behind bars.
H.B. 290 will help address the rising prison population by focusing on policies and services to help Utahns successfully complete probation and parole. This bill underscores that a person's positive progress should be taken into account and that incarcerations rates from community supervision should be decreased while ensuring public safety. Importantly, H.B. 290 will help end needlessly sending people to prison for simple mistakes and common struggles.
Utah has the second-fastest growing prison population in the country. This growth is fueled by revocations from community supervision, which means people already on probation or parole are going to prison in high numbers. In fact, a recent report found that 53% of people entering Utah prisons in FY2020 were already on parole, and another report found that Utah spends about $75 million each year from community supervision revocations. This is a high cost for taxpayers, but an even higher cost for those needlessly sent to prison.
About 18,000 Utahns are on probation or parole. As recently as 2017, almost 80% of people entering Utah prisons were on probation or parole. And about half of those people went to prison for a "technical violation". These violations happen when a person breaks a rule of their supervision agreement but does not commit a new crime. These can be simple mistakes like missing a probation appointment or a common struggle like not getting a job. Everyday, thousands of Utahns are one simple mistake or common struggle away from being sent behind bars.
H.B. 290 will help address the rising prison population by focusing on policies and services to help Utahns successfully complete probation and parole. This bill underscores that a person's positive progress should be taken into account and that incarcerations rates from community supervision should be decreased while ensuring public safety. Importantly, H.B. 290 will help end needlessly sending people to prison for simple mistakes and common struggles.