Okuzeka
Criminal Law & Justice vocabulary · Prisons, Probation & Parole

Parole

Meaning in criminal law & justice, with examples

/pəˈrəʊl/nounCore term

In criminal law & justice, parole means: Early release of a prisoner before the end of the sentence, on condition that they obey certain rules; they can be sent back to prison if they do not.

In Turkish: koşullu salıverilme, şartla tahliye

How it is used

Prisoners become 'eligible for parole', go before a 'parole board' and are 'released on parole'; if they break the rules, parole is 'revoked'. British official texts often call this 'release on licence'. Parole comes after prison, while probation usually replaces it.

Example sentences

  1. He will be eligible for parole after serving fifteen years.

  2. The parole board refused her application.

  3. He was sent back to prison for breaking the terms of his parole.

Common collocations

  • eligible for parole
  • parole board
  • released on parole
  • parole hearing
  • violate parole
  • probationA sentence or period in which an offender lives in the community instead of prison but must follow rules and meet regularly with a probation officer.
  • prisonA secure building where people are kept as punishment after a conviction or while they wait for their trial.
  • inmateA person who is kept in a prison, whether they have been convicted or are waiting for trial.
  • life sentenceThe most severe prison sentence in many countries, given for very serious crimes such as murder; it does not always mean the person stays in prison until death.
  • serve a sentenceTo spend the period of punishment that a court has ordered, especially time in prison.

More terms: Prisons, Probation & Parole

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.