Preparing for Parole and the Board Interview (New York)

New York DOCCS explains how to get ready for a Board of Parole interview. Incarcerated people may seek guidance from the Offender Rehabilitation Coordinator or Supervising ORC, and roughly four months before the scheduled interview the ORC interviews them to prepare the Parole Board Report, which covers crimes of conviction and sentence, a description of the present offense and prior legal history, the person's own statement and attitude regarding the offense, a summary of program and treatment participation and disciplinary history, and release plans for residence, employment, education and treatment. Individuals may also prepare a Parole Release Plan and submit it to the ORC or SORC before the week of the interview. Initial interviews are scheduled about four months before the court-imposed minimum, are conducted by panels of two or three Board members, usually by video conference, and counsel may not be present. A grant produces an "open date" contingent on an approved residence, and decisions may be appealed directly to the Board.