What parole boards look at

Texas

The guidelines combine a risk assessment instrument with an offense severity class. Panels keep discretion. [Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles: Parole Guidelines] (opens in new tab)

• Static factors (do not change): age at first admission to a juvenile or adult facility; prior felony supervision revocations; prior incarcerations; employment history; the commitment offense.
• Dynamic factors (can change): current age; confirmed security threat group (gang) membership; education, vocational and certified on-the-job training completed during this incarceration; prison disciplinary conduct; current custody level.

Nevada

The Board uses a risk assessment with static and dynamic factors, combined with crime severity, for an initial recommendation. The Board can depart from it based on aggravating or mitigating factors. [Nevada Parole Board: Risk Assessment form] (opens in new tab) [Nevada Parole Board: Recidivism Risk & Crime Severity Guidelines] (opens in new tab)

• Static: age at first arrest; prior probation or parole revocations; employment history before arrest; offense type; history of drug or alcohol abuse; gender; number of prior felony convictions.
• Dynamic: current age; active gang membership; DOC-certified education, vocational or treatment program this term; offenses in custody in the past year; current custody level.

Federal and other states

There is no federal parole for crimes from November 1, 1987. For other states we have not yet reviewed officially published factors; see your state's page.

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