Make no mistake, being paroled is not total freedom but is a step in the right direction and should be a time to rejoice and planning for your incarcerated loved one.  Time served is determined by sentencing laws already predefined.

The earliest date to be released would be the inmates (ERD) which is their earliest release date.  Recall Michigan has what is called “Truth in Sentencing” which means an inmate will serve their minimum time which is the ERD date no matter what.  This is Michigan law and is required by the MDOC.  There are other things also that determine the amount of time served beyond the minimum which is required by Michigan law.  Behavior and social behavior behind bars matter, work and improvement classes (MSOP) Michigan Sex Offender Programming,  and their outcomes matter, family support matters (visits, letters, cards, phone calls, parole letters to encourage parole, breaking the rules (whatever they may be) MATTER.  But if they are no problem and serve their time and the parole board deems them rehabilitated then parole can happen.

The Michigan Parole Board is the sole paroling authority for prisoners sentenced to the jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Corrections.  Prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence are subject to the jurisdiction of the Parole Board after serving the minimum sentence imposed by the court, less good time and disciplinary credits, if applicable.  Prisoners whose crimes were committed since enactment of truth-in-sentencing legislation are not eligible for good time or disciplinary credits.  This applies to specified assaultive crimes committed on or after December 15, 1998, and all other crimes committed on or after December 15, 2000.

By statute MDOC (MCL 791.233), even after serving the minimum sentence, a prisoner may not be granted parole until the Parole Board has reasonable assurance, after consideration of all of the facts and circumstances, that the prisoner will not become a menace to society or a risk to the public safety.  The factors considered by the Parole Board in making parole decisions include the nature of the current offense, the prisoner’s criminal history, prison behavior, program performance, age, parole guidelines score, risk as determined by various validated assessment instruments and information obtained during the prisoner’s interview, if one is conducted.  The Parole Board also considers information from crime victims and other relevant sources.

Most parole decisions are made by three-member panels of the Parole Board.  Decisions for prisoners serving a life sentence are made by majority vote of all ten members of the Parole Board.

The Parole Board uses a numerical scoring system called the parole guidelines to apply objective criteria to the decision-making process.  This tool is designed to reduce disparity in parole decisions and increase parole decision-making efficiency.  The factors used in the parole guidelines are set forth in Administrative Rule 791.7716.

Parole may be ordered without an interview if the prisoner’s parole guideline score places him/her in the high probability of parole range (+3 and above) unless the prisoner is serving for an offense involving a sexual assault or one which resulted in a death.  A prisoner may be denied parole without an interview if his/her parole guideline score places him/her in the low probability of parole range (-13 or lower).  The Parole Board’s decision may depart from the parole guidelines range but the Parole Board must provide, in writing, substantial and compelling reasons in support of the decision.

During the period between the Parole Board’s decision and the prisoner’s release, the prisoner’s behavior continues to be monitored.  If the prisoner becomes involved in misconduct in the prison or the Parole Board becomes aware of other adverse information, the parole may be suspended.  Misconduct which occurs after release to parole may result in revocation of parole at the discretion of the Parole Board.

Sometimes things are not as they may appear if the Lord is on your side, this can cancel out many things. Besides the Lord, if the incarcerated has a positive attitude for improvement in his thinking, and takes responsibility for his actions, this will be a huge consideration to the parole board. It matters also if the inmate has turned himself around in relationships and also with the guards.  There are also potential negative impacts if the victim is angry (surely justified) and writes the parole board negative letters in support of no parole for the inmate.  However you also need to recognize that although the parole board receives negative letters every day and they do make an impact, positive letters on your behalf by supportive family and friends also make a big difference.  There are many restrictions placed upon the parolee and these must be followed and taken seriously or the offender will end up back in prison which is not what we want.

Most of the positive things that take place depends on the inmate, making a difference on how soon he gets out, but what the loved ones of inmates (YOU) do will make a huge difference on how well your incarcerated loved one does.

MSOP CLASS  a letter to an imate

With Love

Safe Home

What is considered a safe home, according to the Parole Board? As you probably know by now, nothing seems to be the same for every one. A safe home is determined by the field parole officer! A field parole officer is a person assigned to see over your parole. They work for the department of corrections, through the parole board, the part of corrections that controls all of the inmate’s future. The Parole Board does give the field parole officer many guidelines and it is their responsibility to enforce those rules, but may make exceptions in some cases. The main rule will be that the field Parole officer starts you out, like a house arrest. The field agent comes to visit the home where the returning citizen plans to live and goes over the rules with you. Some of the rules are, no guns or ammunition, no smart phone, in some cases no computer, no drugs or alcohol to name a few and the worst one is no kids (17 years old and younger) coming over to visit or live there. This is after your home has been approved according to the sex offender registry rules. Some of the sex offender rules are: you can’t live within 1000 ft of a school, churches with day care (if you want to attend a church, ask your parole agent 1st), day cares, sport fields or where children are likely to be or within 500 ft of any kind of park. I recommend staying away from these places, if at all possible, but the law is that you can’t live near these places, but you are allowed to go to these places, BUT not loitering. In other words, always ask your field agent for approval if for some reason it’s necessary for you to go to that area, even if it’s part of your work. All these restrictions are why it seems you are on house arrest, Of course you need to be on curfew all the time, except for work or church. By law in MI you have the right to go to church and the officer has no control, except he will want to know where and how long.

 

Placement of GPS

They will place a bracelet on the returning citizen’s ankle and since 2014 you only need a cell phone to stay in contact with your field parole officer. They will do this at the parole office where they drop you off from prison or if you are allowed to pick him/her at prison, then they will attach it before you leave. The rule that you can pick sex offenders up at the prison is not always so, we have been involved where some that can and others cannot. If you pick up the inmate, be sure someone has a cell phone. After your first visit with the field parole officer, you will be told whether you can have a smart phone. (It is becoming harder  to find a cell that isn’t smart, if you have problems, try ATT) The devise is your communication between you and your Parole officer; it also costs you close to $5,000.00 per year. In most cases you will be on parole for 2 years or more, depending on your behavior. Depending on your income and expenses, the field agent will advise to pay all other debts first, living cost, child support, etc. but try to pay something on a timely basis for the tether. After you are finished with parole they will work with you to set up a payment schedule to pay this off. The devise is designed to vibrate if you are late getting home, and you will need to inform them, why you are late. If you are late a short time, there does not seem to be a problem, but if you are late habitually and for longer periods of time and not even close to your way home (you are on a GPS), I’m sure you will have problems. They refer this behavior as being escaped from prison. On the other hand, the people you talk to for being late are not the corrections people, so they are nice and treat you as a person, but if you stay in reasonable perimeters, you should be OK. Always remember the parole officer can see all the infractions so try to stay honest and open with them.

 

State sex registry

One of the first things you need to do is sign up on the State sex registry, which you can do at a State police office, your county jail or if you live in the city you can register at the city Police department. You need to register with the police department in your area. You need to register every six months and any time you move. If you move from your present address you need to tell your officer well in advance, because all the procedures listed above under a “Safe home” need to be done over again. If you have a job, then you will get free time, one hour before work starts and up to one hour after work, if you want anything different, such as stopping for groceries, you can ask your field agent for it during your two week visit. It would be ideal if you were able to know the times in advance, such as church, groceries, counseling, etc. so they can enter them in your schedule at your first visit, when the GPS is attached to you. At that time it would also be ideal if you had your first day planned, register as a sex offender, visit Secretary of  State office, if staying other than your parents home, to stop and pick up personal items, such as clothes. In other words, plan your first day and let them know at the parole office. As a sex offender you need to register as often as listed listed on your parole boards directions, not everyone is the same. You will need to give them information for the registry on quite a few items. The main ones are your address, car, any license including work related, telephone numbers, etc. I’ve read all the rules, but don’t quite follow it all. This is a big maze, but don’t be too concerned, because they have most of information already and when they you sign up the first time they will have all they need. If you would like to see for yourself all the information follow the instructions below.

Before clicking on the link below write these no’s down. After clicking on link, click on the Navigate Statutes “arrow” on right, scroll down and click on,    Act 295-1994-ll , then scroll down and click on Section 28-728.

Sex Offenders Registration Act

 

Court Appointed Therapy

You will likely need to sign up for therapy; the offices are at Jefferson St SE Grand Rapids. Again the parole board determines this and your parole officer will go over this with you. Most start with individual therapy and within 6 months will be in group therapy. After about 18 months it could be voluntary.

 

Drivers License

Depending on your status as a driver, if you have had a driver’s license in the past and if all fines are paid, you will be able to renew your driver’s license without any problems. If you have any restrictions on your record it will need to be taken care of first. When you leave prison they will give you a photo ID. Don’t lose this, it is very important for a number of reasons, and getting your license is one of them.

 

Parole officer’s instructions

The Parole officer, which is assigned to you, will be at the parole office when you arrive and go over all the rules with you. The most important information is about the devise (GPS system), which I previously referred to. Be sure you understand how it works; don’t be afraid to have them repeat something you don’t quite understand. It is your connection to your Parole officer and will be the most useful thing you have on parole, but also the most annoying. All other rules will be written out for you, which you can go back to at any time. The parole officer will have control of your schedule 24 hours a day. Every 2 weeks you will need to visit the Parole officer and present a schedule for the following 2 weeks for the time and why you would like to be away from home. If they agree with your request, they set your GPS system electronically from a remote place so it does not vibrate during that time. Each visit, there will always be a drug test. At the beginning it will seem like you are on “house arrest” and almost in every case your Parole officer will remind you of the prison guards, some are very good and others—

First Week Out of State Prison

Day 1

Picked up son at 7 am and only allowed to send in 1 pair of jeans (brought 3 different sizes since he had lost 84 lbs) so I opted for the smallest size I had (dropped 6 sizes).  He walked out into the visiting room alone with pants way too big but none of us cared since he was no longer in the dark blue with orange stripe prison clothes all inmates wear at the correctional facility.  He was handed 2 sealed envelopes one white, one manila (of which held medical records and a package of 3 condoms, and directions for parole we discovered).   We were so happy just to see him, knowing he could get into the car and drive away with us.

–         We all hugged and cried and walked out with no good byes, no looking back…

We drove straight to the parole office per directions from the prison paperwork, it was so early, he had no breakfast, but he was ok and wanted to just keep driving.  When we arrived to the parole office it was full of others waiting to be seen.  It was fine since our boy was finally out, nothing else mattered.  Once inside with the PO he was tethered, in a very rushed manner the PO went through all the restrictions, and although she was nice about it all, it was just a bit overwhelming to say the least.

–          Curfews of 8am to 2pm and out only every other day.(some are different)

–          Can’t be within a 1000 ft. of a school, 500 ft. of a park.

–          Can’t go to parks, schools, malls, movie theaters.

–          Can’t be around children, nor visit a home with children.

–         Can’t come home even to visit (did we hear that right?) Not if a child visits even though children don’t live there.

–           Not sure if he can come home for Thanksgiving or Christmas, PO will see, maybe later.

–          No internet access at all, nor video gaming system if internet capability.

–          Can have a cell phone, but no camera and no internet access (even by day 5 and we still can’t find a cell with no camera and internet)  The PO said he could get one through “Assurance”, a government issued phone, however my son didn’t qualify till 3 months into a job (Must show 3 months’ pay stubs).  Maybe the PO didn’t realize that, or that these phones also have cameras??

–          Must register with Police Department for sex offender registry within 3 business days for any change of address, each cell phone number, new job address, if you get a driver’s license, or purchase a car.

–          It’s ok we tell ourselves at least he is outside the prison walls

Off to the Police Department to register for the sex offender registry, where he is reminded to return in January, then once a year unless changes noted above.

Next stop is to the Secretary of State to update the ID card for any change of address.  By now it is time for the 11am appointment at the GR office for services (bridge card, bus pass, and help with getting license or birth certificate).  We sat in the waiting area for his short appointment and because he had a place to live already the visit was short.  But while there the person he met with said he could get a cell phone on the street corner somewhere.  The vendor moves around so he wasn’t sure where the vendor tent was at that time.  Apparently they can get what the PO called an “Obama” phone (I later discovered those on Medicaid or disability qualify for free phone).  So do we understand this right?  That they are supposed to wander the streets looking for the “Obama” phone tent?  After much searching for a cell phone without internet or camera I discovered my son didn’t qualify for the so called “Obama” phone since he is not on state aid or disabled.  I now understand why those with no support system find it easy to not be able to make it on the outside (nothing is easy).

Finally we can have lunch.  We told him to get whatever he wanted to eat since this was his first meal.  He picked strawberry waffles and so did we (lots of whip cream).  The look on his face to be sitting there with mom, step dad and dad eating strawberries on waffles was priceless!! After lunch we went shopping since he needed some jeans that fit and since we could not go to the mall we opted for a single retail clothing store where he found 2 new pair of jeans that fit and was so happy.  On to get some groceries for his meals at the house since he had to have his own food.

Had to be at the house by 2pm (curfew) so we hurried the shopping spree to only what we needed for a week.  Then on to the house to get him moved in and settled.

His PO showed up at the house at 3 to install the base unit for his tether and remind him of the restrictions and the need to respond to each beep within 15 minutes on the unit he must carry with him at all times.

In order to go to church he has to have a letter from the church of which thankfully the ministry house manager was able to get for him promptly.  Since his PO was there when the letter came back (yes that fast J ) the PO approved for him to go to the Sunday service this week but only for the time the service is going on.

We left him in his new home, happy and exhausted and went home to sleep since it was 7pm.

Day 2

I picked him up at 8:20 am for his job interview (he has no way to get around and the job is out of range for city busses).  The interview went well so he said (I stayed in the car) so now he can start work the following Tuesday at 6:00am to 2:30pm full time.  We are all happy about this including his PO.  She pages him after the interview and when he tried to answer he could hardly hear the PO.  He is told to call in with another phone (we are on the highway so I have to call since he doesn’t have another phone yet).  So I call the PO because he can’t.  Am thinking “what if I had not carried my phone”?

Next we go to the Dr.to give them the medical reports from the prison and schedule a physical and then on to the Dentist and the Bank.  Somewhere in all of these stops we ended up at the “World Mission Store” where he was amazed at all the things to look at (used), but for him it was great and he picked out a few dollar books.  He said on the way out “I like doing this now Mom” and then I recall never getting him into a store because he hated shopping (not any more).

My son is changed.  He is motivated to do the right thing.  No longer living in a virtual world but now the real world.  It is all good.

We have to be back by 2:00pm due to his curfew so we hurry back.  He was prompting me that it was time to go.

Day 3

He has to stay at his home since he is not allowed out on Thursdays.  We really did need to rest since it was all so much.

Day 4

It is Friday and he has to report his new job address at the Police department and then on to an appointment at our family church.  For my son to attend church with us he again needs a letter from the church.  My son is made to feel very welcome but he has to sign a contract that he will abide by their rules and guidelines at all times.  He signs (we are so grateful to God) since this contract also protects him from potentially being falsely accused.  It is all good.  My son looks happy, something he has not felt for quite some time.

He asks if he can have a mattress and box spring from home since he sits on the bed at the house and sinks in.  Fortunately we have an extra bed we had purchased long ago and take the box spring and mattress to him that night.  His old mattress was quickly claimed by the guy in the room across the hall.  He had said he was indigent and would love to have the additional mattress put on his bed which rested on the floor.  I am again reminded how fortunate my son really is to have family support.  Those that don’t are navigating a very difficult terrain alone…

I remind myself to bring things for the group from time to time.  They were all so appreciative of the honey buns and peanuts we gave them all the first night.  With 5 guys in one house the food will go fast.

We hug my son good-bye and we all smile.

Tonight I spent a few hours looking online for a cell phone again that fits the no camera, no internet criteria.  No luck.  A police officer (when he registered his work address) at the police station printed me out a phone he found on the internet ($134.00).  We can’t spend that on a cell phone now and surely my son can’t either.  Again I am reminded how simple this may look to those on the outside, looking in. Searching online I finally find a phone with no camera that they said could have the internet blocked.  Virgin mobile (can purchase or order at Radio Shack) has a phone ($11.99) with no camera for only $20 a month (honestly these will get harder and harder to find), but was happy to find this one.  I place the order.  At a later date I found AT&T (AT&T store) also carries a basic phone without a camera.

Offenders are released only to find it difficult if not impossible to find a place to live, work and now a cell phone.  I wonder what those do that don’t have a mom, dad, wife or family member to help them.  What is wrong with this picture?  I thank God we can be there for my son.

Day 5

This day is Saturday and he is allowed out but we are all exhausted from the week.  We stay home and rest and then later in the evening my granddaughter comes to spend the night with grandma and grandpa.  We have fun just spending time with her, so joyful.

Truly it has been a great week and we are THANKFUL TO GOD for all he has done for my son, myself, his stepdad and dad.

Day 6

We got to go to church and praise the Lord for all he has done.  What plays over and over in my mind thinking about the past week is the song “Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart”.                                                                                           AMEN!