Georgia Parole Review file Issue 03/Summer 2016 | Page 7

When does the board meet and why?

The Parole Board does not meet to consider parole cases. Case decisions are made by the Board Members by individually reviewing the offender's parole file and determining whether to grant a tentative parole month. Learn more at www.pap.georgia.gov. The Board meets on a regularly scheduled monthly basis, usually the first Tuesday of the month to discuss and act upon changes in rules, policies and procedures, and for presentations. The Board also meets when a condemned inmate is seeking executive clemency and a commutation of the death sentence.

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transition,” Barnard said. “Together the Board and staff have created a stronger board and agency, ensuring public safety through careful, data-driven parole decisions. We will continue on that path."

Barnard says the board continues to engage community stakeholders and criminal justice partners in what is a public parole process in order that the best possible parole decisions are the outcome.

THE PUBLIC PAROLE PROCESS

What do the members consider when determining who gets paroled? If the case is a guidelines case, a recommendation is sent to the Board regarding the time the offender should serve prior to parole. Because the Board Members have constitutional authority and discretion to determine parole, the following is information they may consider when determining if someone receives parole:

Aggravated circumstances; victim impact statement; prosecutor/judicial statements; legal investigation including details/circumstances of the crime(s); parole guidelines recommendation if applicable; inmate progress reports; inmate interviews if applicable; program completions/failures; prison conduct; inmate disciplinaries for prior three years; amount of prison sentence served; inmate's mental health status/progress; probation after prison; offender's age at crime commit date; prior parole considerations; number of prior felonies; prior revocations; prior incarcerations; personal history statement; parole release plan.

For more: https://pap.georgia.gov/parole-consideration