http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/bpp/what_is_parole/first_page.htm

This will answer many questions on the process....types of releases....things considered in the process....

kath

oh hell yeah it answered many questions. thanks for posting that :)

Thanks Kath.

BlueLily

Very informative ... and also quite telling (i.e. so much is left to the board's discretion instead of having guidelines all must follow -- what one might not consider to be bad, another could. comes down to personal preference and interpretation)

I agree the discretionary nature of the "guidelines" is a knife that cuts both ways. It's hard to anticipate every possible case. If the rules were extremely rigid they might be forced to release a mass murderer/rapist even though he vows to do it again. And if they are too discretionary, one of the members may not like how you part your hair, thus you are denied. I much prefer common sense but not everyone agrees on what that is, starting with the cop on the beat to the DA to the judge to the warden to the parole board.