5225 Corrections and Rehabilitation
Program Descriptions

35 - BOARD OF PAROLE HEARINGS - ADULT HEARINGS

The objective of the Board of Parole Hearings - Adult Hearings is to promote public safety through fair parole processes and decisions and to provide the required due process to inmates throughout the hearing process.

For adult offenders, the Board of Parole Hearings is responsible for setting the terms and conditions of parole and conducting parole consideration hearings for eligible inmates serving life sentences including certain parole violators pursuant to Penal Code Section 3000.1. Beginning in January 2014, the Board will also conduct youth offender parole hearings for eligible offenders sentenced under both the Indeterminate Sentence Law and Determinate Sentence Law, pursuant to Chapter 312, Statutes of 2013. The Board also conducts medical parole hearings and determines whether parolees be discharged from parole. Screenings are also conducted for mentally disordered offenders and sexually violent predators, and subsequent hearing referrals are made to the Department of Mental Health. In addition, at the Governor's request, the Board investigates applications and forwards recommendations for pardons and commutations of sentence, including those involving the death penalty. It also has the discretion to recommend to the court that a prisoner's sentence be recalled due to the inmate's significant health condition.

For juvenile offenders, the Juvenile Parole Board is responsible for discharges of commitment, orders for discharge from the jurisdiction of the Division of Juvenile Facilities to the jurisdiction of the committing court, and disciplinary appeals.