Any law office with a vibrant criminal defense practice is aware of the benefits that can accrue to the parolee if the Parole Officer (“PO”) and the parolee have a good relationship.  However, unfortunately criminal clients often do not take steps necessary to ensure a good working relationship – the result is often more work for the attorneys and more headaches for the parolee.

 

The importance of a good working relationship with the Parole Officer is best illustrated by examining the role that the Parole Officer plays in the supervision process, a process that starts with the development of a supervision plan for each parolee.  Supervision can include visiting, unannounced, the residence and/or work location of the parolee, meetings with the parolee at the office of the Parole Officer, as well as random drug testing.  After the supervision plan is established, the role of the PO expands from there.

 

First, the Parole Officer, in consultation with his or her supervisor, determines when and under what circumstances a delinquency action is warranted for parole violations.  In short, whether the parolee has his/her parole revoked and is returned to confinement is largely dependent on the Parole Officers perception of the alleged parole violation; if the PO is convinced a parole violation occurred – more likely than not, the parolee will be back in prison.  An established good working relationship, simply because of human nature, will put the Parole officer on your side, or, at least render the PO less determined to see the parolee locked up again.

 

Second, the Parole Officer assess and evaluate the adequacy of each parolee’s community adjustment and intervenes when parolee behavior threatens that adjustment; a determination that informs as to the length of time that the parolee should remain under community supervision.  In other words, the duration of time of the parole and the length of time for which a parolee must continue to report is by and large dependent upon the recommendations of the Parole Officer.  If the PO and parolee have a good working relationship, the Parole Officer is more likely to issue a positive recommendation thus reducing the need for continued supervision and reporting.

 

Third, the Parole Officer is most often the avenue for making special requests such as for travel, or, for petitioning for relief from civil disabilities imposed as a result of conviction.  In simple terms, want to visit family outside the jurisdiction – the Parole Officer must agree; want to obtain a professional license, or vote – the Parole Officers acquiescence is key to the request being granted.

 

Parolees need to remember that, believe it or not, Parole Officers are people too and they are subject to the same biases and slanted perceptions as the rest of us.  If you don’t like someone, aren’t you more likely to look at them with suspicion?  The same goes for Parole Officers, truth be told, if they don’t like the parolee, they are more likely to look at the parolee with suspicion.  A good working relationship humanizes the parolee and can put the PO on your side, working for the parolee rather than against.