A Brief Guide to Parole Hearings
The Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners conducts parole hearings to consider releasing offenders to the community or to consecutive sentences. Hearings may be conducted in person at the institution where the inmate is housed, via video conference or in absentia (inmate not present).
Parole eligibility is determined by the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC). Parole hearings are typically held four months prior to the eligibility date. Questions regarding parole eligibility should be addressed to the prison timekeeper=s office at (775) 887-3285.
Victim Notification and Input:
Under Nevada law, if a victim requests notification in writing and keeps the board advised of their current address, the board will notify the victim in writing of the date, time and location of the hearing.
Requests for notification of parole hearings made to other agencies (i.e., to the Division of Parole and Probation or the NDOC) may result in non-notification. Please ensure your request is sent to the Parole Board. Upon receipt of your request, the board will acknowledge receipt to you in writing.
The victim of any prisoner applying for parole may submit documents to the board and may testify at the hearing held to consider the application. All personal information which pertains to a victim and which is received by the board pursuant to NRS 213.130 is confidential.
The board encourages that input be provided in writing in addition to any verbal input submitted by a victim. This will allow members of the board to review and consider victim input at a later date. Victims who do not want to participate in the actual hearing may contact the parole board office to meet or speak with a commissioner prior to the hearing to express any views and provide input.
The board may impose special conditions prohibiting the parolee from having contact with victims of crime or threatened persons. If you feel such a condition pertains to you, please advise the board.
If You Decide to Attend a Hearing:
If the hearing will be held at an institution, please contact the institution where the inmate will be seen. You should ask if there are any prohibitions, requirements or special procedures for visiting that institution. You can obtain the number of the institution by calling the central NDOC operator at (775) 887-3285. If you plan on attending at a video conference location, please contact the parole board office where the hearing will be conducted out of.
If you attend at an NDOC facility or institution, DO NOT wear any blue clothing especially blue jeans, denims, shorts or skirts. Inmates wear blue denim clothing and you may not be admitted to the facility.
Depending on the institution and the inmate=s custody level, inmates may or may not be handcuffed in the hearing room. This determination is made by the institution, not the parole board.
If you are a victim and wish to provide testimony during the hearing (while the inmate is present), the testimony must be non-confrontational. The board will accept any personal testimony provided by a victim in private prior to or following a parole hearing.
Due to the possible emotional character of hearings, the attendance of small children may not be appropriate.
Hearings Regarding Sex Offenders:
The board may not release on parole a prisoner convicted of a sexual offense unless a psychological panel certifies that the prisoner was under observation while confined in an institution of the department of corrections and does not represent a high risk to re-offend based upon a currently accepted standard of assessment. If the prisoner is not certified by the panel, the board must deny parole.
Psychological panel results are made known to the board prior to the parole hearing. It may be helpful to you to know the results prior to making a decision whether or not to attend a hearing of this type if the general outcome is already determined. Call the board office at (775) 687-5049.
Attendance of Inmate Family or Friends:
Family and friends of parole applicants may be present during parole hearings. Only victims have the right to furnish verbal testimony at parole board hearings.
The board encourages input from family or friends be provided to the board in writing prior to the hearing. The board may ask questions during the hearing of anyone in attendance.
Depending on the amount of time remaining on a sentence, the board may deny parole up to five years. The typical denial length is one to three years.
Once the board makes a decision to grant parole, the pre-release section of the Division of Parole and Probation takes control of coordinating the inmate=s release plans. Questions or concerns should be directed to that agency by calling (775) 687-5040. Be sure to ask for "pre-release".
Results of Parole Board Hearings:
It is the board=s policy to provide the results of hearings to the inmate prior to releasing results to interested persons. Results are currently made public the 14th day of the month following the hearing. Victims that have requested notification will be provided the results of the hearing in writing.
Reminder: Notify the Parole Board of any address changes to ensure notification.
(Board of Parole Commissioners Pamphlet-01, February 6, 1999)