I would to know if anyone has sent in a support letter to the Parole Board. If so, do you know if it was seen and read by the Parole Board.

I am going to start working on one and I don't really know when about to send it in. Maybe I will send on early and then one later. This way one of them may be seen.

So anyone who has written letters or is working on them, please let me know what you think.

Thanks,
BlueLily

I have been sending in copies to the IPO office, board of paroles in Austin and to the three-member panel that will actually review the case. It may annoy them that copies are flying everywhere but it's the only way to feel comfortable that they actually get in front of the right eyeballs. CenTexLyn has some disheartening news that the Institutional Parole Office has more influence than they shoulod so I made sure they got letters, too. I am told you should begin turning in letters 3 - 4 months before their actual review month. I started a year ago and have kept on sending them.

Really Dumb question (I'm a blonde - that's my story and I'm sticking to it :p) - Do you send the same letters over and over or write new ones everytime?

I write for a living so it's not hard for me to write the same letter again and again ---- only it looks different. The message remains the same although the words may change. You can sometimes get people to write support letters if you offer to "rough out a draft" for them, clean type it when they are done and have them sign it. I agree fully that the board already knows up front that you love your loved one and you "need" them home. Don't waste their time with the obvious. The board doesn;t love your loved one and they don't "need" them at home. Give them solid reasons why Mr. Fixit ought to be released from state custody. I have used tha phrase "productive member of society" until I am blue in the face.

Yeah, I write for a living too, technical writing. Although sometimes it's difficult for me to make the transition from highly technical to descriptive.

Thank you Jim and UTShadow.

I will be sending multiples to everyone I think should read it. CenTex did point out that we read the letters as if we are the party voting (objectively) and if they do not convince us then they should be re-written.

Thanks again,
BlueLily

That's likely good advice from CenTex. Bear in mind your loved one is a number, one of very many the parole board deals with all of the time. Your "15 minutes of fame" is in convincing the board that it's to the best interest of the state to release your person --- not because you miss them, want them, need them, etc. The board hears that all of the time. After you have written your letter, pretend you are a tired, cynical, skeptic and read it from that perspective. If you can't convince yourself that your loved one should go free, you won't convince anyone else.

i did last time he saw parole (2 yrs ago). although i made sure to send it...signature confirmation..or whatever its called. just to make sure that it got to its destination...

where excaly do u send the letters to? i am working on this tooooo

this should help texaz

http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/parole/parole-home.htm

What do yall think about having copies of letters to give to the IPO during the interview? Annie asked this on my other thread about my parole questions.

If we gave them letters to present during their interview - would that be a good idea?

BlueLily

Here is the best link I have found to show one how to write a support letter. Be sure to go to the bottom and click to the next page for an outline.

http://www.txcure.org/parole1.htm



BlueLily,

Paul Kiel, a parole board member says that they only need one copy of support letters or parole packets, not one for each member present at a parole hearing.

As far as presenting support letters to an IPO, I suppose that he/she being interviewed could offer copies of support letters, but I doubt that the IPO would accept them. I am not sure. Blessings,

great info lin, thanks so much

annieforj,

You're Welcomed! Let me know anytime I can help. I have been away for a few weeks, but I am back and willing to help anyone I can. Blessings,

While the txcure link has some useful information, the letter needs to go beyond useful or productive member of society. It absolutely must convey the idea that the person being reviewed is not a threat to the community.

The balance being drawn on every parole review is that between rehabilitation of the offender and the degree of threat to the community that the release might pose.

As I indicated in the other thread and got quoted on over here...think about whether the letter would persuade you that the person was a suitable candidate for release. Voting members don't know the person and are looking at various file reports. With only 18 voting members, they don't have the opportunity to speak with every person under review.

There is no absolute sure-fire way to write a letter that will secure a favorable vote because every case is different. A letter for a first time offender is going to be different than one written on someone that has been in and out a couple (or more) times. Similarly, a letter for someone in for quite some time is going to be different than for someone that just chained in from county a few months ago. The common ground, however, is the element of risk posed by the release. The letter has to convince two voting members (on most cases) that they can vote favorably and not worry about the media showing up on their doorstep wanting to know why they voted to release the person that just committed some new high-profile offense. And, yes, Board members and Division staff have been awakened at early-morning hours because someone they took action on went and did something stupid.

Lin,
Thanks for the link. I will definitely check it out. I did notice you have not been on for awhile. Glad to have you back.

CenTex,
Thanks for pointing out that we need to convey the idea that the person being reviewed is not a threat to the community. This is a learning process for me and I can use all the information that I can get.

Also you said it takes 2 members to vote favorably - does this mean they just need those 2 votes to be granted parole. How many members review each case? Just those 2 or a certain number and only 2 have to vote favorably?

Again - I keep coming up with these questions and I know you have probably addressed them before. But please keep in mind I am not as knowledgeable and I do appreciate your help. Thanks again.

BlueLily

Originally posted by BlueLily
Also you said it takes 2 members to vote favorably - does this mean they just need those 2 votes to be granted parole. How many members review each case? Just those 2 or a certain number and only 2 have to vote favorably?


Most cases are a regular panel vote (three members to each panel), with two votes either direction being what is required for a decision. There are very few split decision cases. On the second vote for or against, a decision is final for the purposes of that vote.

A small number of cases are subject to what is known as "extraordinary vote" procedures, and 2/3 of the full panel must vote favorably for a release to take place (in theory 12 of 18, but we don't have 18 memebrs at the moment because of vacancies in two offices). Those cases work through the process until the 7th vote against release is recorded, at which time voting stops. With the vacancies, the 6th vote against release actually stops the voting right now because a 2/3 majority cannot be obtained with 10 out of 16.

Panel is somewhat of a misnomer though because each member votes independent of the other two members.

Thank you CenTex.

BlueLily

Cen,

Don't most go before a panel of 3 parole board members in their district? I guess a better way to ask this is to say that I am thinking Paul Hampel told us that the ones with life sentences and other high risk crimes are the ones that go before the entire board of 12/18 members. Could you clarify this for me? Thanks. God Bless,

Not all life sentences are extraordinary vote cases...the SB45 cases (extraordinary vote) are all capital cases, those that have a conviction under Section 21.11(a)(1) or Section 22.021 of the Penal Code or who is required by statute to serve a minimum of 35 calendar years before becoming eligible for parole.

Cen,

Thanks, now I must figure out if his conviction falls under either of these Sections. His parole is not until 2007, but I was curious about who goes before the entire board and who does not. And, this all will change somewhat when the board is reduced to 7 members next year? Right? That did pass?

The issue of extraordinary vote cases is one of those gray areas that the legislature did not address when they voted for that stupid commissioner nightmare. And because they did not address the issue, the prevailing thought is that you now will have a situation where you have to have five out of seven votes (71%) instead of 12 out of 18. After all...commissioners are not members of the Board. The commissioner blunder was all about $$$ since they will make about $20K less per year than a Board member, but true to form, the leg did not take the time to think about all of the elements of Code that have to be changed to comport with the new system.

The two specific sections listed deal with certain sex offenses.

FYI...I sent copies of the letters to Skip too.....he took them with him when he was interviewed by the IPO (in case copies had not made it to the IPO's folder)!

Something to think about!
kath

That is wonderful Kath. I am surprised that anyone would take the time to read our support letters.

Cen,
I found the sections of the penal code that you mentioned. Unfortunately he falls under one of them. But, we have faith that all will go well when he comes up for parole. Thank you for all your answers. Blessings,

I have heard that with the new laws in place, the review panel does have to now interview the inmate as part of the process. For the past several weeks, there have been parole panel members on the Smith Unit.

My question would be how to find out which ones are reviewing a particular inmate? Last year, I called and they told me. This year, they said to just send it to TDC Parole and Review Processing.

I always make sure to send everything certified to make sure I show someone signed for it - that is my comfort level - they are supposed to send you a confirmation receipt as well showing that it has been received....

Every since the appointment of a new chairman -- at least according to the TDC website there is one -- I've never received a confirmation of ANYTHING I've sent to the board. Makes you wonder .... and so yes, I do send the really important stuff certified. Was just curious why this time they wouldn't tell me who the voting members were.

The members that may vote a case are going to be those in the office that votes a particular unit. IIRC, Northstar's case involves someone at the Smith Unit in Lamesa. Smith Unit cases are voted first in Amarillo. If Dan Guerra happens to be the first voter, then the file would be sent to Abilene for the second vote. If there is a split vote, it would go back to Amarillo for Ms. Simons to vote the case.

The Board office that votes a particular unit is not a secret...there were listings on the Board website (or at least there were earlier in the year when I did my last print out of that information). The only unknown is who the first voter might be.

Some of the individual Board offices might send out a confirmation letter, but the Central Office was so decimated by staff cuts and shortages that they probably jettisoned confirmations to get other stuff done...and if they have to channel their clerical functions in one direction or another, would you rather they spend their time printing and mailing a canned letter or at least trying to make some half-hearted attempts at filing and distribution of correspondence?

Actually not only the individual board sent me a letter, but so did Austin - I still sent everything certified to make sure that I had proof it was received....

I got confirmation letters from the Central office early in the game, but the last letter I sent (while it did make it to the file), was never acknowledged in writing with one of those form letters they used to send out. That was mid summer, 2003.

I sent 3 different letters (due to our circumstances), and I copied EVERYONE I could think of......I'd rather they go too many places than just one, and never make it the file....Great idea on the certified Lisa...I never did that, but it does give you proof of receipt!

kath

who all would be helpfull in writing support letters.and in my case my husband was sent back on a tecnical violation after being out around three yrs.He served nine yrs on a 15 yr sentence.But I wouldnt even know where to start!So any body with advice plz let me know!!!!
thanks amanda

If he was a valued employee, his employer may agree to write a support letter. If you're a church-goer, try the pastor. If he was in some kind of school and making progress, they may write a letter. Assuming he has no police/traffic violations, I'd be bold enough to ask the police chief or county sheriff to write a letter saying their records show he has not been in any kind of trouble for three years

Jim, if you can get law enforcement to write a letter, it needs to go beyond no trouble for the period of time...that letter should also indicate that they do not oppose his return to the community.

HA! OK, I stand corrected. But I would infer from reading a "no trouble" letter that the writer wouldn't have cooperated in writing such a letter if they objected to the subject's return.

The Board isn't going to infer anything, it needs to be spelled out in black and white. Same thing holds true on pardon applications where the Board's own materials say that the writer needs to write something to the effect of "I recommend a full pardon for xxx."

A sheriff or police chief could have written a letter that says no trouble just as a matter of stating what the local record shows...that is worlds away from saying they don't oppose release back to that community or county.

This gets sillier by the minute but for the sake of fun, are you suggesting a letter might read: "For the record, Mr. Smith has lived in our county for three years and has never posed a problem for law enforcement people, has never been arrested or charged with any infractions. However, I oppose his release to our county because .....uhhh, frankly, I just don't like his cologne."

Jim, nothing that I wrote was intended to be in jest. A sheriff or police chief could provide a statement that simply states what the public record indicates. It does not automatically mean they want someone back in their jurisdiction.

It is your last comments, the ones at 8:53PM 13 December that are taking the significance out of the material I tried to present to aid whoever is trying to get letters in support of the release of their friend or family member. But what do I know...I only worked in a decision making capacity and know what language was being looked at...

Lyn, to return to sobriety, a police official may respond to a quasi official form questionaire by stating that so-and-so has not broken any laws in their jurisdiction, etc. But that is "worlds away" from a family member solicintg law enforcement to state the subject in question has posed no societal problems. Even a parole board member would understand that law enforcement would never write such a letter unless there is a tacit "I do not oppose their return to my county/city." Otherwise, they would say so. Families are not submitting bureaucratic form requests for support. If I was a police chief, and I've known a lot of them, I would never write anything that could be construed as support for a parollee unless that was my intent.

Originally posted by jim brigance
Families are not submitting bureaucratic form requests for support.

Actually, yes, there are many that do because they believe it fills the need. It is no different than the families that believe that petitions with multiple signatures in support of release or check-box forms for what will be offered satisfy what might be needed on letters in support of release.

I've seen more files that are filled with useless crap that some group got the family to believe would be effective.

The reason letters from law enforcement personnel need to contain specific language is the same reason that letters on a pardon application MUST contain "I recommend a full pardon" somewhere in the text...the letters must be plain on their face, without the need for interpretation or reading into what might have been written. The Board also requires in the pardon process a letter from the sheriff of the county of residence that confirms the criminal history (so yes, they are written and submitted in exactly that manner and reviewed on a regular basis by the Board).

You (and others here) are obviously free to believe what you want- you have not been on the decision making end of any component of the process nor have you seen literally thousands upon thousands of files maintained by both TDCJ-ID and the Parole Division. Does that mean there is one magic formula that will work? No. But it did let me see just how much crap there was and have a pretty good idea of what is more likely to work.

Thanks CenTex. I hope you do know that we appreciate your insight. I know that I personally do.

BlueLily