How Much of a Prison Sentence Do You Serve in Texas?

Most people who are convicted and sent to prison will be eligible for parole at some point, but the rules surrounding parole eligibility are complicated. And while there is a path prisoners can follow to shorten their sentences, some groups have pushed to make that option more difficult or even erase it entirely.

In Texas, how much of your prison term should you expect to serve? Our criminal defense attorneys take a look.

Texas Parole Basics

It’s important to recognize that parole is a privilege, not a right. The Texas Board of Pardons & Paroles sets the conditions for parole and makes the final decision about whether someone gets released or not. The Board considers several factors, including any behavior during prior incarceration and institutional adjustment and behavior.

Tying institutional behavior to parole provides an incentive to work on skills that will be valuable after release. When rehabilitation programs, education or work can help shorten a stay behind bars, prisoners have something valuable to work toward. It provides hope and purpose in a place where people really need it.

The Truth in Sentencing Movement

In the 1990s, many states passed legislation under the heading of “Truth in Sentencing.” These TIS laws basically required people convicted of a violent crime (or in some states, all crimes) to serve a substantial portion, usually 85%, of their original sentence before parole could be a possibility.

Victim’s rights groups fought for these laws under the guise of justice. The real impact of these laws is to swell prison populations and make rehabilitation less likely.

Luckily, Texas did not implement a TIS law. Instead, violent offenders in Texas are required to serve at least 50% of their sentence. Then, they can be considered for parole. Other offenders can be considered even earlier.

The Impact of a Long Prison Sentence

Most people can’t imagine what it’s like to be sentenced to years in prison. The stress and pain of a criminal conviction followed by a potentially long period behind bars is hard to bear.

Any tools you can use to make the time more bearable or even productive are valuable. If there are programs available that can shorten your time in prison, that can be a big help in finding direction.

When Arizona stopped allowing prisoners to earn time credits to get paroled sooner, many things changed. Prison rule violations spiked. Fewer prisoners signed up for educational opportunities. More former inmates went on to reoffend and be incarcerated again. Without something to work toward, people don’t stay on track.

Criminal Defense Is Key to Protecting Your Rights

Even at the best of times, prison is not a good place to improve your life. While it’s good for prisons to focus on rehabilitation in an effort to make prisoners and their communities safer, there are better places to turn your life around. You should make every effort to avoid a criminal conviction.

At Lee & Wood, LP, our criminal defense attorneys represent clients against all types of charges in Texas courts. To discuss your case, call us at 817-678-6771 or contact us online.

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