If you are convicted of a crime in Georgia, you may qualify for parole after serving a portion of your sentence. This means that you are released from prison, but you are supervised.
The conditions of your parole may vary depending on the circumstances of your case and your prior criminal history, however there are certain requirements that you may want to prepare for.
Parole conditions
Once you are granted parole, it’s likely that you will be expected to regularly check-in with your parole officer and seek employment or enroll in an education program. You may have to complete regular drug and alcohol tests and attend a counseling or treatment program.
Your parole conditions may include a restriction on contacting your victims or their families, owning or possessing a firearm and may limit the times of day you can be outside of your home. If you need to travel, your parole conditions may require that you ask permission first.
Violations
If you do not comply with the parole conditions, you could face several consequences including returning to prison. Usually, as a first step, your parole officer will submit a violation report to the parole board, and they may issue an arrest warrant.
You will be able to attend a hearing in front of the parole board to address the violations, including presenting arguments, evidence and witnesses. The parole board could decide to continue your parole with modified conditions or revoke your parole and send you back to prison to complete the remainder of your sentence.
You have a right to representation during this process.