PREPARE for Parole
Phase 2 of the PREPARE Program
PREPARE for Parole – empowering every incarcerated Marylander to present complete, accurate information to the Parole Commission
This phase of the program consists of – first of all – a set of materials which are targeted to incarcerated Marylanders with less than 18 months until a parole hearing. They include the following:
- Guidance on Preparing a Parole Packet
- Prepare for Your Hearing
- How You Can Support a Parole Candidate (for supporters on the outside)
- When You’ve Been Refused Parole (if a client is refused)
- Life Sentence Flyer (info on parolable life sentences)
PREPARE for Parole materials may be downloaded from the Parole Materials page of this website by family, friends and engaged citizens who wish to assist loved ones. Hard copies of the materials have been placed in all prison libraries of Maryland facilities from which people go up for parole.
Beyond the materials, the PREPARE for Parole phase of the program entails direct advocacy. This is currently available in-person in MCIW and via workshops and correspondence in some men’s facilities. The longer term goal is to make direct advocacy available throughout Maryland, but right now in some facilities it is only the materials which are available.
When a PREPARE parole advocate is working directly with a client they assist that person in putting together an accurate depiction of their life before the crime, what happened, and what they have done to change. While the process of packet development may vary based on the amount of time left to the hearing, the client’s circumstances, and the client’s specific needs, and where the client is housed, PREPARE direct advocacy follows a similar path and provides the same documents and services, tailored to the client’s needs.
The Parole Packet includes:
- Dashboard – quick and easy access to the most vital information
- Advocacy Letter – highlights the important parts of the packet
- Life Story – the client's life history from before the crime through their path to rehabilitation
- Remorse Statement – in certain cases, a statement of the client's remorse and understanding of the crime and its impact
- Reentry Plan – a detailed plan for the client's housing, employment, health care and treatment services, and other tangible support
- Letters – character and recommendation letters with a highlights page pulling out the best quotes
- Evaluations and Certificates – work evaluations and program certificates with a table of contents
PREPARE assists the client with:
- Filling out the dashboard
- An advocacy letter that addresses important factors that the Parole Commission considers
- Writing and editing the life story and remorse statements
- Identifying reentry service providers, arranging necessary interviews, and obtaining acceptance letters
- Organizing letters, evaluations and certificates
- Compiling everything into a professional, accurate packet and submitting it to the Parole Commission
- An advocacy call with one of the ten Maryland Parole Commissioners, led by a PREPARE staff member, in conjunction with the client's family and/or reentry service providers
- Creating a comprehensive reentry plan
