Texas Parole Lawyer

I have been representing clients before the Texas Parole Board for the past decade.  Most of this work involves parole revocation proceedings or representing clients in the parole review process.   

Parole Revocation Hearings in Texas

If you are on parole and the parole board believes you have violated parole, they might issue a “blue warrant.”  This warrant issues when a parole revocation has been initiated.  When this happens, you need to obtain the assistance of a qualified Texas Parole Lawyer.  The first step in the parole revocation process is a preliminary hearing.  I always advise my clients not to waive this hearing.  The purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine whether probable cause exists that a parolee has violated the law. This is a low burden to meet, but often times the preliminary hearing will assist us in preparing for the revocation hearing.  If probable cause is found, then a second hearing called a revocation hearing may be held. 

In order for a parole panel to revoke an offender’s parole or mandatory supervision as a result of a revocation hearing, there must be a finding that one or more conditions of release have been violated.  However, even if this finding is made, not all is lost.  The revocation hearing is a two-step process.  The second phase of a revocation hearing is the adjustment phase.  The adjustment phase, also referred to as the “mitigation phase,” provides an opportunity to consider evidence about a parolee’s adjustment while on this period of supervision, including, but not limited to, work history, compliance with prescribed drug treatment programs, adherence to

conditions of administrative release, and previous violations of parole or mandatory

supervision.  This phase is just as important as the revocation phase, and I always prepare to show the revocation hearing officer why my client should not be revoked even if he or she is found to have violated parole.  

At the end of the revocation hearing, the hearing officer will make a recommendation and report to the parole board, and a three-person parole panel will make the final decision.  The panel can find no violation, and you will stay on parole, or the panel can order you to an intermediate sanction facility, rehab, amend your conditions, or send you back to prison.  My goal as your parole revocation attorney is to do everything I can to prevent the last option from happening, and to help you get back to your life as quickly as possible.  

Texas Parole Lawyer

One of the most rewarding areas of my practice is helping the families of incarcerated men and women get their loved ones home as soon as possible.  When I represent a person before the Parole Board, my goal is to transform the person from a number and file, to real person with a structured plan upon release.  When a person is incarcerated at TDCJ, the Department will calculate their parole eligibility date. You can find a person’s parole eligibility date here: https://offender.tdcj.texas.gov/OffenderSearch/start.action .  After you search for the persons name, click on the Parole Review Information tab.  This page will also give you the person’s next parole review date.  You should try to hire an attorney at least 6 months before that date.  

My main goals in representing a person seeking parole in Texas are to (1) put together a parole packet, or parole brief, which explains why the person should be released and (2) attempt to get a meeting with one of the voting members.  Every attorney handles parole packets differently, but I create mine with one goal in mind: I want the parole board to know that they are not going have any problems with my client on parole.  I work with my client’s family to establish a parole plan to show the parole board that my client will have the resources available to successfully complete parole: a safe place to live, a job, and a support system.  When I file the parole packet with the parole board, I also request an in-person meeting with one of the voting parole board members and a few of my client’s family members.  While I don’t always get an in-person meeting, in the past I usually have.  At the meeting, the focus is not on me, it is on the family.  We want to use this opportunity to show the parole board that your family member has what it takes to stay out of trouble if granted parole.  

Anyone that has been through the parole process can tell you that there are no guarantees, but my goal in helping my clients is to make sure the parole board has what it needs to recommend parole.