California parole support and character letters: where to send them, plus a free letter builder
Who receives letters in California, where to send them, which ID to include and when, from official sources. Then write yours with the builder.
General information, not legal advice. OutSooner does not send letters or contact boards for you.
Coverage: Check manually
Last verified: Oct 16, 2026 · Source: CDCR: In-Prison Credit-Earning Opportunities (Prop 57) (opens in new tab)
Known limitations (2)
- We summarize credit rules from official sources, but we have no DOC data or estimates for this state. Confirm with the Department of Corrections.
- We verified the rates on CDCR's official credit-earning page. The statute and regulation text could not be loaded during this check.
Parole: limited
Most California prison sentences are fixed (determinate). The Board of Parole Hearings decides release for people serving life or other indeterminate terms.
If the person has no parole hearing, the letter that helps is a character letter for clemency or a sentence reduction.
Where to send it
- Address it to: California Board of Parole Hearings [Official source] (opens in new tab) [Official guide] (opens in new tab)
- Email: BPH.CorrespondenceUnit@cdcr.ca.gov
- Mail: Board of Parole Hearings, P.O. Box 4036, Sacramento, CA 95812-4036
- ID to include: CDCR number. Look it up with California's official inmate locator. Never post it publicly.
- Timing: Not published on the official page we checked. Call the office to confirm.
- The Board's handbook says a support letter should include the date, your relationship, how long you have known the person, the type of support offered, and your name and signature.
- Letters do not need to be notarized and should generally be one page, single-sided.
- Do not send generic templates: documents should be specific to the person.
- No paper copy is needed if you email.
Checked Oct 18, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the official source before you send.
Character letters (clemency, commutation, sentence reduction)
The difference: a parole support letter focuses on the release plan (housing, work, transportation, treatment). A character letter is about who the person is, with real examples, and how they have changed. Many good letters have a little of both.
In California, character letters are used mainly in clemency (pardon or commutation) applications. Ask the California Board of Parole Hearings or the Governor's office how to submit them; we did not find published rules specific to these letters.
Use the builder below and choose "Character letter."
What makes a letter strong
- One page. Specific and honest.
- Who you are, how you know the person, and for how long.
- Changes you have seen yourself.
- For parole: a confirmed plan for housing, work and transportation.
- Acknowledge the offense and harm, without re-arguing the case or blaming the victim.
- In your own words: several identical letters carry less weight than one sincere one.
Example 1: parole support letter (sister offering housing)
[Date]
California Board of Parole Hearings
Re: Letter supporting parole for [Full name], CDCR number [number], [facility]
Dear Members of the California Board of Parole Hearings,
My name is [your name], and I am [name]'s older sister. I live in [city], California, where I work as a nursing assistant. I have stayed in touch with my brother every week for the [number] years of his sentence.
I have seen real change. He finished his high school equivalency, completed [program], and now talks about the harm he caused without making excuses. When we talk about the victim, he does not change the subject.
If he is granted parole, he will live with me at [address or city] in his own room, in a home with no alcohol or weapons. I will drive him to parole and treatment appointments for the first months. [Employer] has confirmed in writing that he can start work as a [position] (letter enclosed).
I understand how serious his offense was. I am committed to helping him follow every condition, and I will speak up if anything worries me.
You can reach me at [phone]. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, [signature and printed name]
Example 2: character letter (clemency or commutation, from a former supervisor)
[Date]
California Board of Parole Hearings
Re: Character letter for [Full name], CDCR number [number]
Dear Members of the Board,
My name is [your name]. I supervised [name] at [company] for [number] years before their sentence, and for the past [number] years I have led a volunteer group that visits [facility].
I know [name] as someone who follows through. In [year], when a coworker was injured, [name] covered that person's shifts for two weeks without being asked. In prison, they have tutored reading in [program], and the coordinators describe them as patient and steady.
[Name] does not minimize what they did. They have talked with me about the harm to [the victim / the family] and what they have done to change: [examples].
I support their clemency request because [a specific, honest reason, such as their health, years of good conduct, or the support waiting for them].
You can reach me at [phone or email].
Sincerely, [signature and printed name]
FAQ
Where do I send a parole support letter in California?
To the California Board of Parole Hearings: BPH.CorrespondenceUnit@cdcr.ca.gov or Board of Parole Hearings, P.O. Box 4036, Sacramento, CA 95812-4036. Confirm with the official source.
What ID number should I include?
The person's CDCR number, along with their full name and facility.
How is this different from a character letter?
A parole support letter explains the release plan (housing, work, transportation). A character letter describes who the person is and how they have changed; it is used mostly for clemency.
Build your letter
Fill in the fields and the letter builds below. Everything happens in your browser: nothing is sent, nothing is saved, and we do not measure what you type. Print or copy it before you close the page.
About the person
Your details (used in the signature)
California's Board asks for your name and, if possible, your signature, plus the date and your relationship.
Preview
Start filling in the form. Anything shown [in brackets] is still missing.
Build a parole packet
Cover sheet, home plan, job letter, support plan and letters, printed together. Everything stays in your browser; nothing is sent or saved. Each board decides what it accepts: check the official source before sending a packet.