Q I am on parole in Texas. What should I do if I think the parole officer wants to revoke my Texas parole?
In Texas there are numerous reasons the Texas Parole Board can try to revoke an individual’s parole. If a person violates a rule or condition of their parole, a parole officer can take steps that could lead to a parolee’s revocation and return to prison. However, the parole officer is not the person who decides whether parole is revoked. They make a recommendation but the final decision is made by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. You have rights that must be respected prior to being revoked; a right to a hearing in order to determine if there is probable cause to believe a condition of parole has been violated. You have rights at the hearing including the right to question whatever evidence they claim to have, to cross-examine witnesses and to have an attorney defend those rights. Additionally, at the hearing there is time to present other types of evidence that can help you avoid having your parole revoked.
It is never a good idea to simply ignore the problem. Often parolees or family members call us who have waited a significant amount of time before asking how to handle the situation. Often the individual on parole has in the meantime stopped reporting to their parole officer and has moved to a new residence without informing their parole officer of the move. This is not a good solution because they are insuring that a blue warrant will be issued for their arrest and they risk being treated as an absconder. Once the blue warrant has been issued it will stay in place until the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has issued a ruling on the allegations. It does not matter if the person’s parole completion date has passed, after the blue warrant is issued it will stay there until it has been dealt with. It is our experience that it is best to face any possible parole problems head on and not make the situation any worse. Often even if a person has violated a condition of their parole and a blue warrant is issued it is still possible to avoid having their parole revoked.
If you are in Houston, Galveston, Fort Bend or Grimes County and are worried that your Texas parole may be revoked please contact us. We can advise you on how to handle the situation and if necessary zealously represent your rights at a parole revocation hearing. We can visit with parolees in jail if and speak with the parole officer. As experienced Texas Parole Attorneys we have a great deal to offer during this stressful time.
