Parole provides community supervision to offenders who are serving a sentence for a non-violent offense released by the Parole Board and to offenders who are serving a sentence for a violent offense released by the Governor to finish serving their sentences outside of prison, subject to certain conditions. Offenders on parole must pay a supervision fee of $40.00 per month. Special conditions may be imposed by the Parole Board to further restrict freedom, limit movement in the community, add further punitive measures, or to require rehabilitative services. Violation of any of the standard or special conditions of parole may result in the imposition of additional/intermediate punitive sanctions, up to and including sending the offender back to prison.
The Oklahoma Legislature has enacted legislation which requires the Parole Board to consider the following criteria when making a parole decision as set out in statute Title 57 O.S. Section 332.7 and 332.8.
“332.7(H): It shall be the duty of the Pardon and Parole Board to cause an examination to be made at the penal institution where the person is assigned, and to make inquiry into the conduct and the record of the said person during his custody in the Department of Corrections, which shall be considered as a basis for consideration of said person for recommendation to the Governor for parole for violent offenders or for granting of parole for non-violent offenders by the Board. However, the Pardon and Parole Board shall not be required to consider for parole any person who has completed the time period provided for in this subsection if the person has participated in a riot or in the taking of hostages, or has been placed on escape status, while in the custody of the Department of Corrections. The Pardon and Parole Board shall adopt policies and procedures governing parole consideration for such persons.”
“332.8: No recommendations to the Governor for parole shall be made in relation to any inmate in a penal institution in the State of Oklahoma unless the Pardon and Parole Board considers the victim impact statements if presented to the jury, or the judge in the event a jury was waived, at the time of sentencing and, in every appropriate case, as a condition of parole, monetary restitution of economic loss as defined by Section 991f of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, incurred by a victim of the crime for which the inmate was imprisoned. In every case, the Pardon and Parole Board shall first consider the number of previous felony convictions and the type of criminal violations leading to any such felony convictions, then shall consider either suitable employment or a suitable residence, and finally shall mandate participation in education programs to achieve the proficiency level established in Section 510.7 of this title or, at the discretion of the Board require the attainment of a general education diploma, as a condition for release on parole. The Board shall consider the availability of programs and the waiting period for such programs in setting conditions of parole release. The Board may require any program to be completed after the inmate is released on parole as a condition of parole. A facsimile signature of the inmate on parole papers that is transmitted to the Board shall be an accepted means of acknowledgement of parole conditions. The probation and parole officer shall render every reasonable assistance to any person making application for parole, in helping to obtain suitable employment or enrollment in an education program or a suitable residence. Any inmate who fails to satisfactorily attend and make satisfactory progress in the educational program in which the inmate has been required to participate as a condition of parole, may have his or her parole revoked. If an inmate’s parole is revoked, such inmate shall be returned to confinement in the custody of the Department of Corrections.”