Parole Board Hearings, Decision Factors and Support Letters (Colorado)

The Colorado State Board of Parole's FAQ explains the three hearing types: application interviews for discretionary parole, rescission hearings, and revocation hearings. At an application interview the initiating Board member either defers or releases, and the decision is final only after a second member electronically signs it; individual members cannot parole someone convicted of a violent crime, so those cases go to the Full Board where at least four affirmative votes are needed. Hearings are open to the public but must be attended at the facility, and visitors must arrange security clearance through the incarcerated person's case manager. Letters of support must be sent to the case manager for upload into the DOC system rather than directly to the Board, because letters sent to the Board are forwarded on and may not be uploaded in time. The FAQ lists the statutory decision factors in C.R.S. 17-22.5-404 and states that parole application decisions are not subject to appeal.