Orangeburg County Parole Lawyer

To be granted parole can provide an all new start for you following a criminal conviction. After time spent behind bars, parole can provide freedom and a chance to get back on your feet. However, parole requires an application with very specific requirements that can be difficult to get right without skilled legal representation.

Your freedom is too important to chance an incorrect petition. An experienced Orangeburg County parole lawyer will help you with the application and represent you throughout your parole process.

How Parole Works

The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services (DPPPS) sets and implements the rules that govern the parole process. There are a lot of rules who interact in increasingly complex ways. Navigating these complex requirements can be incredibly difficult without years of experience filing these applications. Having an experienced attorney to help with this process is an essential part of obtaining freedom for a defendant.

The DPPPS regulates and governs the Parole Board. This Board is the one that decides whether a defendant is eligible for parole, and whether parole will be granted. The board has seven members that are representatives from each of the state’s congressional districts. The parole board has the power to grant parole, modify parole, or even revoke it when the requirements of parole are not followed.

A properly constructed application is essential. It must contain all of the correct information and must demonstrate that the defendant is eligible for parole. After that, it must make a strong case that the defendant should be granted parole by the Parole Board.

Factors the Board Will Consider: How the Decision is Made

The decision as to whether to permit parole for a defendant is a complex one, and one that is based on many different factors. The Parole Board will consider these factors and make a decision as to whether to grant parole. These factors include:

  • The nature of the conviction
  • The defendant’s personal history
  • Any victim impact statements and opinions on parole
  • The defendant’s record while in prison
  • The date of the sentencing for this conviction

All of these factors will weigh in to the Parole Board’s decision as to whether to permit parole for the defendant. A strong application is a must-have for every defendant who wishes to seek parole. Parole is denied for many people, and there is never a guarantee parole will be granted. A qualified attorney can help increase the likelihood of parole by preparing a well-constructed application.

Revocation of Parole

For those who were granted parole, they are expected to follow strict supervision requirements and conditions of release. When a defendant is alleged to have violated these conditions, the DPPPS has the power to seek revocation of the parole.

If the DPPPS alleges that the terms of the parole were violated, the defendant is entitled to a hearing in front of a judge. The judge will review the evidence in the case and hear the arguments of the DPPPS and the defendant’s lawyer. Punishment for violation of parole terms can include changes to supervision, revocation of parole, and more.

Consult a Parole Attorney in Orangeburg County

An application for parole should always be completed with the help of an experienced attorney. These applications can be difficult to understand and easy to accidentally mess up. Your rights deserve the best chance possible, whether you are applying for parole or defending allegations of a violation of parole.

An experienced Orangeburg County parole lawyer has the years of training necessary to represent you in your parole case. Call today to get started on your case.