Characteristics of parole release systems in states without discretionary parole, 2026

 

This table accompanies the briefing, Since you asked: What does early release look like in states that eliminated discretionary parole? It covers 17 states and D.C. which have eliminated or severely curtailed the use of discretionary parole. The information here is intended to broadly describe how parole and other forms of supervised or early release work in these jurisdictions, and may not cover every scenario or sentence.

State Date of shift to determinate sentencing Parole‑eligible groups Number of people with access to discretionary parole, or closest datapoint Name of parole board or equivalent Parole board responsibilities Parole board composition Are hearings open to the public? Other early release mechanisms Discretionary parole grant data
Arizona 1/1/94 Date of crime (People whose crimes were committed before parole was abolished)
Specific sentencing rule (“Parole” language)
Age at time of crime (Juvenile life sentences) 		Could not find Arizona Board of Executive Clemency Clemency (commutations, pardons, reprieves, etc.) Five full-time members appointed by the governor
“appointed on the basis of broad professional and educational qualifications with an interest in the state’s correctional program”
No more than two members from the same professional discipline may be members of the Board at the same time
Five-year terms, but chairperson’s term is two years		 Yes Good time
Transitional release		 In FY2025, out of 2,095 total hearings, 47 of 211 parole/home arrest hearings were granted (22% grant rate)
California 1976 Life sentences
Age at time of crime (under 26)
Crime type (“nonviolent third strikers” under Proposition 57)		 41,464 determinately and indeterminately-sentenced persons who are eligible for a parole hearing as of 2021, including elder parole, according to CDCR Board of Parole Hearings Clemency
Other		 21 full-time members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate
three-year terms		 No Medical release
Elder parole 		In 2025, 832 grants out of 7,882 hearings (11% grant rate)
Delaware 6/30/90 Date of crime Could not find Board of Parole Clemency (advisory role to the Board of Pardons) Five members: One full-time Chairperson and four part-time Members, one from each county and one from the City of Wilmington
Nominated by governor, confirmed by senate
chair must have experience in probation, parole or related area
part-time members must have “demonstrated interest in correctional treatment or social welfare”
Four-year terms		 Yes Second look/resentencing
Medical release		 Could not find
District of Columbia 8/1/00 Date of crime 661 as of 2021, according to DC Justice Lab U.S. Parole Commission Could not find Commissioners are appointed by the President No Good time Could not find
Florida 10/1/83 Date of crime
Specific sentencing rule (“outside the guidelines”)		 As of June 30, 2023, approx. 3,498 people who are still eligible for parole consideration (4% of state prison population, using 2023 data) Commission on Offender Review Clemency
Conditions (setting conditions for post-release supervision)
Other release/supervision decisions		 Three members, appointed by governor/their cabinet and confirmed by the state senate
Six-year terms, two consecutive term limit		 Yes Second look/resentencing
Good time
Medical release		“In FY 24-25, the Commission made 927 parole determinations and granted parole to 19 (2% grant rate)
Illinois 2/1/78 Date of crime
Age at time of crime (emerging adults up to age 21)		 In 2022, 39 C-numbers currently incarcerated (0.1% of prison population, using 2023 data) and 29 C-number hearings held Illinois Prisoner Review Board Clemency
Conditions
Other (Certificates of relief from disabilities and certificates of good conduct)		 15 members (9 members as of May 2026) appointed by the governor, with approval of the state senate No Second look/resentencing
Medical release
Earned time		 “In 2022, 4 of 29 C-number cases granted (14% grant rate)
Indiana 10/1/77 Date of crime “At least 784 people” in 2020 who had sentences between 1 and 25 years and were parole-eligible (5% of total population, according to LINK) Parole Board Clemency Five members appointed by the Governor Yes Good time
Medical release		Could not find
Kansas 7/1/93 Date of crime Could not find Prisoner Review Board Clemency
Conditions		 Five full-time, salaried members
three appointed by the governor and two appointed by attorney general, all confirmed by state senate
One member must have minimum 5 years experience in law enforcement, one experienced in victim services, one minimum 5 years as a prosecutor
Four year terms, except law enforcement person (3 years), victim services person (2 years), and other members (1 year)		No Good time
Medical release		 Could not find
Louisiana 8/1/24 Date of crime Could not find Committee on Parole Clemency (members also make up the Board of Pardons) Five members, appointed by governor and confirmed by state senate
Members must have at least a bachelor’s degree and not less than 5 years experience in penology, corrections, law enforcement, sociology, law, education, social work, medicine, psychology or psychiatry, OR a combination thereof, OR no bachelors degree and 7 years experience		 Yes Medical release
Elder parole (“parole based on advanced age”)
Good time		 69 grants of 337 hearings in 2024 (20% grant rate)
Maine 5/1/76 Date of crime None, as of 2023 Parole Board Clemency
Conditions (and determining the parole term)		 Five members appointed by the Governor with special training or experience in law, sociology, psychology, or related branches of social science
Four-year terms		 No Good time
Medical release		 Could not find
Minnesota 5/1/80 Age at time of crime (JLWOP prosecuted as adults, Extended Jurisdiction Juveniles who have to serve adult sentence)
Life sentences
Crime type (sex-related convictions)		Could not find Supervised Release Board None Five members, including the DOC commissioner who serves as chair
Appointed by governor based on recommendations from state senate and house leaders
Two additional members with psychology backgrounds are only called in for cases involving juveniles certified as adults (and are direct gubernatorial appointments, with no input from state senate and house leaders)		 Yes Second look/resentencing
Earned time
Medical release		 Of 48 hearings in 2024, 11 were granted parole (some to a consecutive sentence - 23% grant rate)
In 2025, 3,723 people were released on parole OR supervised release (the majority, 77%, of all releases).
New Mexico 7/1/79 Date of crime
Life sentences		Could not find; average 300 parole hearings held per month Parole Board Clemency
Conditions		 15 members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate
Two-year terms
staggered terms where five members are appointed every 2 years
Minimal experiential requirements: Academic training or professional experience as is deemed necessary to render them fit to serve as members of the board
no officials or employees of any other federal, state or local government entity
A hearing panel is typically three members, but two represents a quorum		 No Good time
Earned time
Medical release		Could not find
North Carolina 10/1/94 Date of crime Could not find Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission Conditions Four members including one chair, appointed by governor
Four-year terms
No specific experiential requirements: all appointed members “shall possess the recognized ability, training, experience, and character…to serve ably on the Commission”
There is a staff psychologist who conducts evaluations at the request of the Board and can consult on cases
Must have majority to deny/approve parole		 No Second look/resentencing
Medical release		 From Jan-April 2026, 19 of 186 hearings approved (10% grant rate
primarily parole, but also includes community service parole and early medical release)
Ohio 7/1/96 Date of crime
Life sentences		8,469 people (as of 2023): About 2,200 pre-SB2, 5,200 eligible sentences post-SB2, and 900 parole violators who fall into both categories (roughly 18% of state prison pop, using 2023 data) Parole Board Clemency Other release/supervision decisions (including SVP hearings) Max 12 members, including chair (9 members as of April 29, 2026) appointed by the director of the DRC
Six-year terms, max two terms, except chair and victim representative (both board members)
Members must meet educational or experience qualifications in law, social work, or correctional work, including law enforcement, prosecution, and victim advocacy. 		No Second look/resentencing
Earned time
Medical release Judicial release
Other release (“release as if on parole”)		 Could not find
Oregon 11/1/89 Date of crime Could not find Board of Parole Conditions
Other release/supervision decisions (including sentencing changes)
Exit interviews
Sex offender registry relief/reclassification		Five full-time members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate
Four-year terms
No experiential requirements for members		 No Second look/resentencing
Medical release		Could not find
Virginia 1/1/95 Date of crime Over 3,000 including geriatric parole (March 2026 - roughly 13% of prison ADP, using VA DOC data) Virginia Parole Board Clemency
Other release/supervision decisions (geriatric parole)		 Five members, including one chair and one vice chair, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the general assembly (legislature)
At least one member of the Board shall be a representative of a crime victims’ organization or a victim of crime
Four-year terms		 Yes Earned time
Medical release		 In 2025, of 2,609 people considered for parole, 32 were granted (1.2% grant rate)
Washington 1984 Date of crime
Crime type (sex-related)
Age at time of crime (Juveniles sentenced as adults)		 Could not find Indeterminate Sentences Review Board Other release/supervision decisions (sex-related convictions)
Conditions (can add, modify, or remove their own conditions separate from those imposed by the court)		 Five full-time salaried members, appointed by governor, confirmed by senate
Five-year terms
No experiential requirements		 No Earned time, good time
Second look/resentencing
Sentencing alternatives (e.g. split sentence)
Medical release (“extraordinary”)		 Could not find
Wisconsin 12/31/99 Date of crime
Crime type (sentences deemed “non-Truth-In-Sentencing”)		 1,571 as of 5/31/2026 (7% of total pop) Wisconsin Parole Commission Other release/supervision decisions (military and “special action” parole) Three members appointed by governor with consent of state senate
Two-year terms		 No Earned time
Resentencing for medical/geriatric reasons
Other release (“Parole Due to Extraordinary Circumstances”)		 Grant rates ranging from 4% to 15% between 2017 and 2025, according to DOC dashboards
 

Description of columns

Date of shift to determinate sentencing
The date after which most or all incarcerated people are ineligible for discretionary parole.
Parole-eligible groups
A brief list of circumstances or conviction types that are still eligible for discretionary parole.
Parole board responsibilities
These are functions tasked to the parole board (or equivalent authority) other than administering hearings and decisions related to discretionary parole, including violations, revocation, and recission.
Parole board composition
Information about the members of the parole board, such as the maximum number of members, appointment processes, and experiential or professional requirements.
Other early release mechanisms
A brief list of other ways incarcerated people can shorten their sentence or be released early. Eligibility, frequency of use, and decision-making entity (such as a judge, corrections staff, or parole board member) varies by state and mechanism.
Discretionary parole grant data
Any recent outcome data for discretionary parole applicants in that state.

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