Glossary of Common Terms | Large Print
Last updated: March 2024
This glossary is intended to help a parole candidate understand the key terms used in California’s Board of Parole Hearings process.

Entire Parole Packet | Large Print
Last updated: October 2024
This collection of resources is our comprehensive guide to understanding what to expect in a parole suitability hearing and how to best prepare.

Overview of California’s Parole Process + How to Prepare for It | Large Print
Last updated: May 2023
This guide provides a general overview of the scope of a parole suitability hearing, different steps in the process and aspects of preparation.

How to Work with Your Parole Attorney | Large Print
Last updated: August 2024
This guide offers tools for taking ownership over the parole hearing process and working effectively with an attorney. Because nearly 90% of parole candidates throughout the state are represented by attorneys who are appointed by the Board, this advice is primarily tailored to working with appointed attorneys.

Parole Prep Questions | Large Print
Last updated: May 2023
This list of questions is intended to guide a parole candidate in telling their story of change. By the time of the parole suitability hearing, a parole candidate should be ready and able to answer each of these questions.

What Happens on the Day of + During a Parole Hearing? | Large Print
Last updated: Jan 2022
This guide is intended to take some of the mystery out of what happens on the day of a parole suitability hearing. After reading this guide, a parole candidate should have a clear idea of what to expect before, during and after a hearing.

Tools for Emotional Regulation During a Parole Hearing | Large Print
Last updated: March 2022
Parole suitability hearings can be stressful, exhausting, and at times, traumatizing. This guide covers some tools a parole candidate can use to stay grounded, composed and clear-headed during a hearing.

How to Prepare for a Comprehensive Risk Assessment | Large Print
Last updated: May 2023
This guide is intended to help a parole candidate familiarize themselves with the Comprehensive Risk Assessment (CRA or “psychological evaluation”) process and understand what they can do to prepare for it.

How to Challenge a Comprehensive Risk Assessment | Large Print
Last updated: March 2022
This guide contains information on what a parole candidate can do if they and/or their attorney believes that there are factual errors, mischaracterizations, or omissions in their CRA.

2021 Changes to the Comprehensive Risk Assessment Regulations | Large Print
Last updated: March 2021
On February 5, 2021, the Board of Parole Hearings adopted changes to the regulations governing when the Board is required to produce a new Comprehensive Risk Assessment. This guide covers those changes.

What Happens After A Parole Grant | Large Print
Last updated: March 2022
This guide is intended to help answer the most common questions parole candidates and their loved ones have after a parole grant.

Advocating for a Loved One During the En Banc Review Process | Large Print
Last updated: April 2022
After someone has received a parole grant, the decision still needs to be affirmed by the Board of Parole Hearings’ Decision Review Unit and the Governor before it’s finalized. En Banc review means that either the Decision Review Unit or the Governor has referred the decision back to the full Board of Parole Hearings for further consideration. En Banc hearings happen during the Board of Parole Hearings’ monthly Executive Board Meetings. are open the public, and give family and advocates an opportunity to provide comment in support of their loved one being released on parole.

Annotated Case List | Large Print
Last updated Jan 2022
This Guide is intended to help identify important cases related to the parole hearing process. This guide is not intended as a replacement for legal research and is only a starting place to help you identify some of the cases that have clarified people’s rights in the parole hearing process.

How to Write a Letter of Support | Large Print
Last updated: Jan 2022
Letters of Support are submitted to the Board of Parole Hearings by loved ones and advocates to show the Board of Parole Hearings that a parole candidate has a strong support network that will help them successfully transition back to the community should they be granted parole.

How to Write a Closing Statement | Large Print
Last updated: March 2022
This guide is intended to help a parole candidate plan their closing statement, which is an opportunity in the parole suitability hearing for a parole candidate to speak uninterrupted and unprompted.

How to Write a Petition To Advance | Large Print
Last updated: Feb 2023
A Petition to Advance is a form that a parole candidate can file after a parole denial or stipulation to unsuitability. This guide includes instructions on what to include in a CRA, information on when to file one based on the denial length and the form (1045-A) necessary to use to make the request.

How to Write a Decision Review Letter| Large Print
Last updated: April 2022
This guide is intended to help a parole candidate understand how they can ask the Board of Parole Hearings to reconsider a parole denial based on factual and legal errors that were relied upon in the decision.

How to Write a Letter of Remorse | Large Print
Last updated: June 2023
This guide is intended to help a parole candidate understand what to focus on and avoid in a letter expressing remorse for their life crime. Please note that letters of remorse are not to be sent to victims but are rather a way of displaying insight and remorse to the Board of Parole Hearings.

How to Write a Parole Plan
Last updated: Jan 2022
A parole plan is a detailed plan for a parole candidate’s life after release from prison.

How to Write a Parole Plan If You Have an ICE Hold | Large Print
Last updated: November 2023
This guide is intended to help individuals with immigration detainers create parole plans to present to the Board of Parole Hearings during parole suitability hearings.

Parole Plan Worksheet | Large Print
Last updated: June 2023
This Worksheet was created to provide an example of how a Parole Plan can be written and organized.

California Transitional Housing List | Large Print
Last updated: June 2023
This guide provides a list of transitional housing options by county throughout the state of California.

[TIP: To jump straight to the county you’d like to search, use the ‘find’ shortcut. Type CTRL + F for Windows or CMD + F for Mac on your keyboard.]

How to Write a Relapse Prevention Plan | Large Print
Last updated: June 2023
A Relapse Prevention Plan is an outline of the coping skills and support network a parole candidate plans to rely upon in order to avoid negative behaviors. Relapse Prevention Plans are not simply for issues related to substance abuse and can address any negative thinking patterns and/or behavior that might be a concern for the Board of Parole Hearings.

Relapse Prevention Plan Worksheet| Large Print
Last updated: June 2023
This Worksheet was created to provide an example of how a Relapse Prevention Plan can be written and organized.

How to Write A Book Report & Suggested Book List | Large Print
Last updated: October 2024
Book reports are written reflections meant to help a parole candidate express the lessons they have learned from a particular piece of literature. Book reports can also help to fill gaps in the programming that is available to a parole applicant at their institution.

AB 1186 and Restitution Avoidance
Last updated: March 2025
AB 1186 made important changes to the collection and imposition of restitution fines. This resource provides information about AB 1186 whether it impacts the discussion of restitution in parole hearings.

California's Compassionate Release Program Overview | Large Print
Last updated: August 2024
This guide is intended to explain California's compassionate release program which allow a potential path for very ill people to be resentenced and release.

California’s Medical Parole Process Overview | Large Print
Last updated: April 2022
This guide is intended to explain California’s Medical Parole Process which allows some very ill people to parole to licensed Skilled Nursing Facilities in the community before their normal parole dates.

Criminal Justice Legal Foundation v. CDCR Litigation Update and FAQ
Last Updated: October 2025
Information on the CJLF v. CDCR litigation and how it impacts the application of Prop 57 credits to Minimum Eligible Parole Dates and release dates for people with indeterminate sentences.

EDD Fraud and Restitution Avoidance
Last updated: March 2025
BPH commonly asks questions about EDD fraud and restitution avoidance. This is UCL's comprehensive guide to navigating those issues in the parole process.

Franklin Proceeding FAQs | Large Print
Last updated: May 2023
A Franklin proceeding is an opportunity for a parole candidate to go to court in order to present mitigating evidence related to their youthfulness if they were under the age of 26 at the time of their commitment offense. This guide covers frequently asked questions regarding Franklin proceedings.

How To Navigate Your Innocence Claim In a Parole Hearing | Large Print
Last updated: March 2023
This guide is intended to help a parole candidate who maintains innocence of their life crime understand how to meet the Board of Parole Hearing’s standards for suitability given that the central focus of a parole suitability hearing is remorse, accountability and insight related to the commitment offense.

Reed FAQ and Habeas Guide | Large Print
Last updated: September 2024
People v. Reed is a case that limits who can be returned to prison for violations of parole conditions. This resource answers frequent questions about Reed and provides tips if Reed applies to you.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program Guide
Last updated: September 2025
This resource provides information about how participation in the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program can play a role in the parole suitability process. It also provides information about a period in 2024 when many in the MAT program falsely tested positive for opiates and what to do if you think you were affected.

2024 Legislative Session Highlights

2023 Legislative Session Important Bills

2023 Legislative Session Highlights

2022 Legislative Session Highlights

2021 Legislative Session | Large Print
Bills that passed during the 2021 Legislative Session.

Criminal Justice Highlights from 2020 Legislative Session| Large Print
Bills that passed during the 2020 Legislative Session.

Initiate Justice

Trains incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, as well as their families, to lead policy advocacy and civic engagement efforts. 

2024 In re Poole Fact Sheet| Large Print
Update on our case aimed at improving the quality of legal representation for parole applicants appearing before the Board of Parole Hearings.

2019 Notice to Johnson Class | Large Print
Update on our class action lawsuit, Johnson v. Shaffer.

Challenging Your Parole Denial in California State Court

This handbook explains how to challenge a parole denial or reversal by filing a habeas petition in California state court. It includes fill-in-the-blank templates for writing a habeas petition.

Impugnación de la denegación de su libertad condicional ante el tribunal del estado de California

Resumen del proceso de consideración de libertad condicional | Letra grande

Qué ocurre el día de la audiencia

Glosario de términos comunes

Cómo redactar un plan de prevención de recaídas

Plan de prevención de recaídas | Letra grande

Cómo escribir una carta de arrepentimiento| Letra grande

Cómo redactar un plan de libertad condicional

Plan de libertad condicional| Letra grande

Cómo redactar un plan de libertad condicional si está retenido por el ICE

Cómo redactar una declaración final

Preguntas de preparación para la libertad condicionalLetra grande

Cómo trabajar con su abogado de libertad condicional

Herramientas de regulación emocional durante la audiencia de libertad condicional

Cómo redactar un informe de libro y lista de libros recomendados

Cómo planificar su reclamo de inocencia en una audiencia de consideración de libertad condicional

Lista de casos comentados que tratan el proceso de libertad condicional

Paquete de libertad condicional (incluye todos los documentos anteriores + nuestra guía sobre la preparación para una evaluación exhaustiva de riesgos)

Cómo prepararse para la CRA | Letra grande

Cómo impugnar una CRA

Guía para redactar una carta de apoyo

Qué ocurre tras la concesión de la libertad condicional

Cómo redactar una carta de revisión de decisión

Cómo prepararse para la revisión En Banc

Cómo presentar una solicitud de adelanto

Resumen del proceso de libertad condicional médica

Lista de casos comentados que tratan el proceso de libertad condicional

Preguntas frecuentes sobre el proceso Franklin

Lista de viviendas de transición de California

Proyectos de ley importantes de la sesión legislativa en curso| Letra grande

Preguntas Frecuentes Sobre El Caso People V. Reed Y Consejos Para Presentar Una Petición De Hábeas Corpus

Parole Hearing Schedule
Click to see the schedule of upcoming parole hearings at any California prison.

Board of Parole Hearings’ Report of Significant Events (2024)
Most recent BPH Report of Significant Events.

The California Parole Hearing Process Handbook
BPH handbook on California's parole hearing process.

CDCR Population Demographics Report (2019)
CDCR’s most recent demographic data.

CDCR Inmate Locator
Click to access CDCR’s Inmate Locator, which includes hearing information.

Lifer Support Alliance

Helps lifers and their families understand a life sentence

Asian Prisoner Support Committee

Provides culturally relevant programs such as Ethnic Studies classes in prisons, reentry services, and deportation defense campaigns.

CCWP/Drop LWOP Coalition

The coalition, through legislative reform, commutation applications, public education, and organizing efforts. 

Penal Law Project, Community Legal Information Clinic

Helps incarcerated people in state and federal prisons across the U.S. by providing legal information and research materials upon request.  

Prison Law Office (PLO)
Our Founder and Executive Director, Keith Wattley, began his legal career at the Prison Law Office, which litigates prison conditions. PLO provides free resources on topics ranging from filing an administrative appeal (602) to suing prison officials for money damages.

Rosen Blen Galvan & Grunteld LLP

The firm handles a wide range of cases, including complex commercial disputes, constitutional and civil rights litigation, class actions, employment law, white-collar criminal defense, and legal malpractice.  

TGI Justice Project

Fights to end human rights abuses against Black and Black/Brown transgender, gender variant, and intersex people in California prisons, jails, and detention centers. 

Three Strikes Project, Stanford Law School

A legal clinic dedicated to representing people serving life sentences under California's "Three Strikes" law for nonviolent offenses.  

Mount Tamalpais College
Our Founder and Executive Director, Keith Wattley, is a former member of the Board of Directors — the first accredited independent liberal arts college specifically dedicated to serving incarcerated students.

Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC)
Our Founder and Executive Director, Keith Wattley, is a former member of the Board of Directors for LSPC — a nonprofit that provides direct advocacy and legal representation for individuals incarcerated in California to restore human and civil rights, and to reunify families and communities.

Post-Conviction Justice Project at USC Gould Law School

A clinical legal education program that provides legal representation to people serving life sentences in California prisons. 

East Bay Community Law Center- Clean Slate Clinic

Services include legal representation for post-conviction record remedies such as felony reductions and record expungements, as well as support for addressing employment and housing issues related to criminal records. 

Find Help (powered by Aunt Bertha)
Find food assistance, help paying bills, and other free or reduced cost programs, including new programs for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Project Protocol

Provides resources, shared experiences, and community support, they aim to address the lack of transparency, consistency, and accountability in the parole system.  

Root and Rebound

Offers resources such as a Reentry Legal Hotline, mobile legal clinics, and educational workshops to assist peoplein overcoming barriers related to employment, housing, and family law. 

Ella Baker Center

Advocates for policy changes related to resentencing and other issues impacting people affected by the criminal justice system. They focus legislation that reduces sentences, removes barriers to reentry, and restores opportunities for those impacted by incarceration.

Office of the State Public Defender

Provides legal representation for indigent people, particularly those facing capital sentences.  

Participatory Defense Hub

Forms local "hubs," participants collaborate to gather evidence, attend court hearings, and advocate for fairer outcomes, transforming the power dynamics within the justice system. 

For the People

They provide support for people to pursue prosecutor initiated resentencing.

Asian Law Caucus

Provides legal services, community empowerment, and policy advocacy to fight for immigrant justice, economic security, and a stronger democracy. Their work encompasses areas such as housing rights, immigrant rights, workers' rights, national security and civil rights, and voting rights.  

California Public Defenders Association

Provides continuing legal education, training programs, and resources to ensure the highest standards of legal representation for indigent clients.

East Bat Community Law Center- Immigration Center

Provides a full range of legal services to immigrants and their families. They provide free legal advice and representation many options. 

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Resource Page

From Prison to ICE to Freedom: A Handbook for Immigrants Inside

Immigration Advocates Network

Immigration Legal Services — SIREN | Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network

California Coalition for Women Prisoners

Advocacy organization focused on supporting and advocating for incarcerated people, particularly women and transgender people in California's women's prisons.