What is Parole in Castle Rock?
In Castle Rock and throughout Colorado, Parole is a conditional, early release from prison. It is thought of as a transitionary period. In the General Overview of Parole from the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, two types of parole are discussed:
- “Prior to 1993, all parole was discretionary, i.e. an inmate who met the appropriate criteria could be released from incarceration before the sentence was completely served. If the parolee violated the terms of the release, parole could be revoked and the parolee returned to prison to serve the remainder of the sentence. Ex: Inmate X is eligible for release after serving 6 years of his 10-year sentences. He is placed on parole for the remainder of the sentence. If he violates any of the conditions of parole, he can be reincarcerated for the remainder of the sentence. Whether he gets credit for any time spent on parole depends on when he committed his original offense and the nature of that offense.
- In 1993, the legislature added an additional type of parole. Inmates could still be released before completing their entire sentences, but would be subject to an additional 1, 3, or 5-year term of mandatory parole after release, depending on the type of felony the offender had committed. Under the current system, every inmate is required to serve a term of mandatory parole. If the parolee violates the terms of the release, parole can be revoked and the parolee returned to prison to serve the remainder of the term of mandatory parole. Whether he gets credit for the time he spent on parole depends on the basis for the revocation.”