| Attorney serving Bentonville, Bella Vista, Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville, Eureka Springs, Berryville, & surrounding areas in Northwest Arkansas. |
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on this website is
intended to begin the
attorney-client
relationship. Neither The
Bryant Firm nor any
attorney operating under
the auspices of The
Bryant Firm is your
attorney or legal
representation until an
engagement agreement
has been signed by both
you and an attorney at
The Bryant Firm. Nothing
on this site is intended to
be used as legal advice.
Prospective clients
should only rely on legal
advice as said or written
in a letter by a licensed
attorney. Nothing on this
site qualifies as legal
advice.
on this website is
intended to begin the
attorney-client
relationship. Neither The
Bryant Firm nor any
attorney operating under
the auspices of The
Bryant Firm is your
attorney or legal
representation until an
engagement agreement
has been signed by both
you and an attorney at
The Bryant Firm. Nothing
on this site is intended to
be used as legal advice.
Prospective clients
should only rely on legal
advice as said or written
in a letter by a licensed
attorney. Nothing on this
site qualifies as legal
advice.
Parole & Pardon
| PRACTICE AREAS |
The sentence a convicted felon gets in Arkansas is most of the time exaggerated. When a
plea offer is made to a defendant, or the jury or judge pronounces its verdict, parole
eligibility is rarely brought up. It is possible for someone to get a ten year sentence (which
for some may seem like a lifetime), but actually get out of prison and be placed on parole in
one year and eight months.
Parole eligibility is based on several factors, both before sentence and after. The key factor
to determine parole eligibility before sentencing is the nature of the crime. Offenses are
categorized based on the seriousness of the crime. The least serious of criminal offenders
are eligible for parole after one third of their sentence is served. The next level of criminal
offenders are eligible for parole after one quarter of their sentence is served. The next
seriousness level of criminal offenders are eligible for parole after one half of their sentence
is served. The most serious offenders must serve seventy percent (70%) of their sentence
before they are eligible for parole, or will never be given the ability to be out on parole.
After the sentence begins, offenders can earn credit for good time served of up to one half
of their parole eligibility based on seriousness. So if a criminal offender is eligible for parole
based on seriousness of the offense after one third of her sentence is served, and she does
not get into any trouble while in prison, she can be eligible for parole after only one sixth of
her sentence is served. Some offenses, typically the more serious ones, will not qualify for
good time served credit.
While on parole, former inmates are prohibited from the same things that probationers are.
They cannot associate with felons, use drugs, consume alcohol in excess, own a firearm,
etc. They may also be required to report to their parole officer on a periodic basis, submit
to random drug tests, and waive their rights to a warrant for a search of their person, home,
or vehicle.
A pardon is much different than parole. A pardon asks the governor of Arkansas to forgive
the crime as if it never happened. The right to vote and own a firearm are restored to
persons who have been pardoned by the governor. But this is a very discretionary process,
A pardon, like parole, is a privilege. Pardons and parole are not rights that criminal
defendant's have. The parole board has the discretion to grant or deny parole, and the
governor's office has the discretion to grant or deny a pardon. It is important that anyone
seeking a pardon demonstrate rehabilitation from their criminal past. They should be
employed, active in the community, and have strong support from others in the community
for a pardon. One cannot simply sit at home watching TV all day and expect sympathy and
a pardon from the governor's office.
If you have questions about parole or gubernatorial pardons, contact a criminal law attorney.
Click here for more information on the Arkansas Parole Board.
Click here for more information on the Arkansas Sentencing Commission.
Click here for more information on Gubernatorial Pardons. (Click on Executive Clemency)
Click here for more information on Sentencing.
plea offer is made to a defendant, or the jury or judge pronounces its verdict, parole
eligibility is rarely brought up. It is possible for someone to get a ten year sentence (which
for some may seem like a lifetime), but actually get out of prison and be placed on parole in
one year and eight months.
Parole eligibility is based on several factors, both before sentence and after. The key factor
to determine parole eligibility before sentencing is the nature of the crime. Offenses are
categorized based on the seriousness of the crime. The least serious of criminal offenders
are eligible for parole after one third of their sentence is served. The next level of criminal
offenders are eligible for parole after one quarter of their sentence is served. The next
seriousness level of criminal offenders are eligible for parole after one half of their sentence
is served. The most serious offenders must serve seventy percent (70%) of their sentence
before they are eligible for parole, or will never be given the ability to be out on parole.
After the sentence begins, offenders can earn credit for good time served of up to one half
of their parole eligibility based on seriousness. So if a criminal offender is eligible for parole
based on seriousness of the offense after one third of her sentence is served, and she does
not get into any trouble while in prison, she can be eligible for parole after only one sixth of
her sentence is served. Some offenses, typically the more serious ones, will not qualify for
good time served credit.
While on parole, former inmates are prohibited from the same things that probationers are.
They cannot associate with felons, use drugs, consume alcohol in excess, own a firearm,
etc. They may also be required to report to their parole officer on a periodic basis, submit
to random drug tests, and waive their rights to a warrant for a search of their person, home,
or vehicle.
A pardon is much different than parole. A pardon asks the governor of Arkansas to forgive
the crime as if it never happened. The right to vote and own a firearm are restored to
persons who have been pardoned by the governor. But this is a very discretionary process,
A pardon, like parole, is a privilege. Pardons and parole are not rights that criminal
defendant's have. The parole board has the discretion to grant or deny parole, and the
governor's office has the discretion to grant or deny a pardon. It is important that anyone
seeking a pardon demonstrate rehabilitation from their criminal past. They should be
employed, active in the community, and have strong support from others in the community
for a pardon. One cannot simply sit at home watching TV all day and expect sympathy and
a pardon from the governor's office.
If you have questions about parole or gubernatorial pardons, contact a criminal law attorney.
Click here for more information on the Arkansas Parole Board.
Click here for more information on the Arkansas Sentencing Commission.
Click here for more information on Gubernatorial Pardons. (Click on Executive Clemency)
Click here for more information on Sentencing.
| The Bryant Firm, P.A. | 9 Halsted Circle | Rogers, AR 72756 Ph: (479)633-8994 | Fax: (479)633-8997 All rights reserved. (c) The Bryant Firm, 2011. |
| Joshua S. Bryant Attorney at Law THE BRYANT FIRM, P.A. 9 Halsted Circle Rogers, AR 72756 (479)633-8994 Fax: (479)633-8997 |