What does it mean to actually be paroled within the states? The term parole, like other criminal justice terms, is sometimes misinterpreted to mean something different or just not fully understood. Hence, parole means that an offender serves part of their given sentence under the supervision of their community (Gaines 258). As well, under the U.S. Parole Commission, the law states that parole may be granted if 1) the inmate has substantially observed the rules of the institution, 2) if release would not depreciate the seriousness of the offenses or promote disrespect for the law, and 3) release would not jeopardize the public welfare (Parole Commission). Hence, within different states, parole systems are both different and yet the same in some aspects. By engaging in research in five different states, Texas, North Carolina, California, Connecticut, and New York there are many interesting facts and figures that go alongside the concept of parole for offenders.
             Within the state of Texas, in order for an inmate to receive parole, he or she must serve the appropriate amount of time for their sentence. Clearly, the offender cannot receive a mandatory release if he or she has served enough time in prison and has the appropriate amount of "good time" shaved off of the sentence. However, the release may have terms and conditions that restrict or give that person more privileges than they had intended. Once an offender become eligible for parole, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, who functions with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and consists of eighteen members, takes over the task of deciding whether the offender is ready to 'rejoin' society by looking at the offender's status in prison and their ability to successfully be put back in society without further run ins with the law (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/bpp/whatis.
             ...