Parole
Victims Service Unit of the Parole Board

Since 1987, the Parole Board has provided information, support, and referral services to victims, witnesses, and their families through its Victims Service Unit. The staff of the unit are specially trained to resond to victims' questions and concerns about parole and victimization issues. They can also help you to determine how time deductions may affect the release date of the offender. In addition, the unit assists with CORI-certification, facilitate victim input and provides referrals to community and criminal justice agencies.

An advocate is available weekdays from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If necessary, collect phone calls will be accepted. In addition, an advocate may arrange to meet with victims at one of the nine regional parole offices in the Commonwealth.
For information or assistance, please call or write:

Victims Service Unit
Massachusetts Parole Board
27-43 Wormwood Street
South Boston, MA  02210
(617) 727-3271
Credits: Thank You
Guide Contents
What You
May Be Feeling
Criteria For Release On Parole
This section does not apply to offenders convicted of first-degree murder.
The Parole Board may conduct a parole release hearing for an offender up to 120 days before his parole eligibility date. However, if granted parole as a result of the hearing, the offender may not be released until he reaches his parole eligibility date.
When reviewing an inmate for parole, several factors are taken into consideration. The Board focuses on the risk factor to the public and assesses the likelihood of reoffending by the criminal if he is released. Other considerations include the nature of the crime for which the offender is currently incarcerated, prior criminal history, acknowledgment of his resonsibility for the crime, and recognition of its impact on society. What he has done both positive and negative during his confinement is also taken into account. In addition, the Board is interested in whether the offender has addressed the factors which initially led to the commission of the crime and if he has made an effort to rehabilitate himself, i.e., if drug or alcohol dependent at the time of the incident, has he sought counselling, or participated in a drug rehabilitation program. Community support is another consideration, i.e., will the offender be returning to a supportive family environment, or back to the same set of circumstances which led to previous criminal activity.
Parole, if granted, is a conditional release. The Parole Board usually imposes conditions and rules such as mandatory counseling, drug testing, the provision that the offender have no contact with family members of the victim, etc., which are intended to continue the rehabilitation process. While on parole, the offender is under the supervision of a parole officer. Violation of the conditions of parole could result in the offender being returned to custody to resume serving the remainder of his sentence.
While it is difficult for homicide survivors to think about the person responsible for the murder of their loved one being released on parole, eligibility for parole does not guarantee release on parole. Although an offender has the right to a parole release hearing, he does not have the right to release on parole. That decision is made solely at the discretion of the Parole Board after reviewing all relevant documents in the offender's case file. In addition to information obtained from official court records, the file would contain a record of both positive and negative behavior of the offender while incarcerated, e.g., participation in institutional programs for self-improvement, as well as information regarding any disciplinary action which might have been taken against the inmate during his confinement. The file would also include letters of opposition from the victim's family and friends, video or audio tapes, copies of impact statements and any other relevant documents which might assist the Board in reaching an informed decision regarding the offender's release on parole.