Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 508.0441. RELEASE AND REVOCATION DUTIES. (a) Board members and parole commissioners shall determine: (1) which inmates are to be released on parole or mandatory supervision; (2) conditions of parole or mandatory supervision, including special conditions; (3) the modification…

Sec. 508.045. PAROLE PANELS. (a) Except as provided by Section 508.046, board members and parole commissioners shall act in panels composed of three in matters of: (1) release on parole; (2) release to mandatory supervision; and (3) revocation of parole or mandatory supervision. …

Sec. 508.0455. PAROLE PANEL DATA. (a) The board shall coordinate with the department to collect and analyze data on the release of inmates on parole, mandatory supervision, or medically recommended intensive supervision and the use of special conditions and graduated sanctions to…

Sec. 508.046. EXTRAORDINARY VOTE REQUIRED. To release on parole an inmate who was convicted of an offense under Section 20A.03, 21.02, 21.11(a)(1), or 22.021, Penal Code, or who is required under Section 508.145(c) to serve 35 calendar years before becoming eligible for release o…

Sec. 508.047. MEETINGS. (a) The members of the board shall meet at least once in each quarter of the calendar year at a site determined by the presiding officer. (b) The members of the board are not required to meet as a body to perform the members' duties in clemency matters. (c…

Sec. 508.048. SUBPOENAS. (a) A parole panel may issue a subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness or the production of any record, book, paper, or document the panel considers necessary for investigation of the case of a person before the panel. (b) A member of the board may…

Sec. 508.0481. VICTIM'S RIGHT TO REPRESENTATION. (a) If a victim, close relative of a deceased victim, or guardian of a victim is required by a subpoena issued under Section 508.048 to appear at a hearing, the victim, relative, or guardian is entitled to representation by counsel…

Sec. 508.049. MISSION STATEMENT. (a) The board, after consultation with the governor and the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, shall adopt a mission statement that reflects the responsibilities for the operation of the parole process that are assigned to the board, the division, t…

Sec. 508.050. REPORT TO GOVERNOR. (a) On request of the governor, the board shall investigate a person being considered by the governor for: (1) pardon; (2) commutation of sentence; (3) reprieve; (4) remission of fine; or (5) forfeiture. (b) The board shall report to the governor…

Sec. 508.051. SUNSET PROVISION. The Board of Pardons and Paroles is subject to review under Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act), but is not abolished under that chapter. The board shall be reviewed during the period in which the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is reviewed. Added …

Sec. 508.052. COMPUTERS; OFFICE SPACE; OTHER EQUIPMENT. (a) The department by interagency contract may provide to the board necessary computer equipment and computer access to all computerized records and physical access to all printed records in the custody of the department tha…

Sec. 508.053. USE OF TECHNOLOGY. The board shall implement a policy requiring the board to use appropriate technological solutions to improve the board's ability to perform its functions. The policy must ensure that the public is able to interact with the board on the Internet. A…

Sec. 508.054. RECORDS OF COMPLAINTS. (a) The board shall maintain a system to promptly and efficiently act on complaints filed with the board. The board shall maintain information about parties to the complaint, the subject matter of the complaint, a summary of the results of the…

Sec. 508.055. NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. (a) The board shall develop and implement a policy to encourage the use of: (1) negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008 for the adoption of board rules; and (2) appropriate alternative dispute res…

Sec. 508.081. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Compensation" has the meaning assigned by Section 305.002. (2) "Inmate" includes: (A) an administrative releasee; (B) an inmate imprisoned in the institutional division; and (C) a person confined in a county jail awaiting: (i) t…

Sec. 508.082. RULES. The board shall adopt rules relating to: (1) the submission and presentation of information and arguments to the board, a parole panel, and the department for and in behalf of an inmate; and (2) the time, place, and manner of contact between a person represen…

Sec. 508.083. ELIGIBILITY TO REPRESENT INMATES. (a) A person who represents an inmate for compensation must: (1) be an attorney licensed in this state; and (2) register with the division. (b) A person serving as a member or employee of the board or the Texas Board of Criminal Jus…

Sec. 508.084. FEE AFFIDAVIT. (a) A person required to register under Section 508.083, before the person first contacts a member of the board, an employee of the board, or an employee of the department on behalf of an inmate, shall file a fee affidavit with the department in a for…

Sec. 508.085. REPRESENTATION SUMMARY FORM. (a) A person required to register under Section 508.083 shall, for each calendar year in which the person represents an inmate, file a representation summary form with the division on a form prescribed by the division. (b) The form must …

Sec. 508.086. CRIMINAL PENALTIES. (a) A former member or employee of the board or the Texas Board of Criminal Justice or a former employee of the department commits an offense if the former member or employee violates Section 508.083(b), (c), or (d). (b) A person who represents a…

Sec. 508.111. DIRECTOR. (a) The executive director shall hire the director of the division. (b) The director is responsible for the administration of the division. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 12.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 508.112. DUTY OF DIVISION. The division is responsible for the investigation and supervision of all releasees. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 12.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 508.113. PAROLE OFFICERS, SUPERVISORS: QUALIFICATIONS. (a) This subsection and Subsection (b) apply only to a person employed as a parole officer or supervisor on or before September 1, 1990. A person may not be employed as a parole officer or supervisor, or be responsible f…

Sec. 508.1131. SALARY CAREER LADDER FOR PAROLE OFFICERS. (a) The Texas Board of Criminal Justice by rule shall adopt a salary career ladder for parole officers. In adopting the salary career ladder, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice shall, in consultation with relevant stakehol…

Sec. 508.114. PAROLE OFFICERS, SUPERVISORS: ADDITIONAL DUTIES. (a) The judge of a court having original jurisdiction of criminal actions may, with the approval of the director, designate a parole officer or supervisor as a community supervision and corrections department officer.…

Sec. 508.1141. SPECIALIZED TRAINING; GANG MEMBERS. The department shall develop and provide specialized training for parole officers supervising releasees previously identified by the department as being members of prison gangs, criminal street gangs, or security threat groups. A…

Sec. 508.1142. PAROLE OFFICER MAXIMUM CASELOADS. (a) The Texas Board of Criminal Justice by rule shall establish guidelines for a maximum caseload for a parole officer. (b) The Texas Board of Criminal Justice: (1) shall periodically review the guidelines established under Subsect…

Sec. 508.1143. REPORT ON PAROLE SUPERVISION APPROACHES AND MAXIMUM CASELOADS. (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, the department, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall: (1) review current parole supervision practices and caseload approaches; and (2) submit a report o…

Sec. 508.115. NOTIFICATION OF RELEASE OF INMATE. (a) Not later than the 11th day before the date a parole panel orders the release on parole of an inmate or not later than the 11th day after the date the board recommends that the governor grant executive clemency, the division sh…

Sec. 508.116. PAROLE INFORMATION PROGRAM. (a) The division shall develop and implement a comprehensive program to inform inmates, the inmates' families, and other interested parties about the parole process. (b) The division shall update the program annually. Added by Acts 1997, …

Sec. 508.117. VICTIM NOTIFICATION. (a) Before a parole panel considers for release on parole an inmate who is serving a sentence for an offense in which a person was a victim, the division, using the name and address provided on the victim impact statement, shall make a reasonabl…

Sec. 508.118. HALFWAY HOUSES. (a) The division, in conjunction with the institutional division, shall use halfway houses to divert from housing in regular units of the institutional division suitable low-risk inmates and other inmates who would benefit from a smoother transition …

Sec. 508.119. COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES. (a) The purpose of a community residential facility is to provide housing, supervision, counseling, personal, social, and work adjustment training, and other programs to: (1) releasees who are required by a parole panel as a conditi…

Sec. 508.141. AUTHORITY TO CONSIDER AND ORDER RELEASE ON PAROLE. (a) A parole panel may consider for release and release on parole an inmate who: (1) has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment in the institutional division; (2) is confined in a penal or correctional institution…

Sec. 508.1411. NOTIFICATION OF PAROLE PANEL DECISION. (a) For each decision of a parole panel granting or denying the release of an inmate on parole, or denying the release of an inmate on mandatory supervision, the parole panel shall: (1) produce a written statement, in clear an…

Sec. 508.142. PERIOD OF PAROLE. (a) The institutional division shall provide the board with sentence time credit information for each inmate who is eligible for release on parole. (b) Good conduct time credit is computed for an inmate as if the inmate were confined in the institu…

Sec. 508.143. LEGAL CUSTODY OF RELEASEE. (a) A releasee while on parole is in the legal custody of the division. (b) A releasee while on mandatory supervision is in the legal custody of the state. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 12.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 508.144. PAROLE GUIDELINES AND RANGE OF RECOMMENDED PAROLE APPROVAL RATES. (a) The board shall: (1) develop according to an acceptable research method the parole guidelines that are the basic criteria on which a parole decision is made; (2) base the guidelines on the serious…

Sec. 508.1445. ANNUAL REPORT ON GUIDELINES REQUIRED. (a) The board annually shall submit a report to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officers of the standing committees in the senate and house of representatives primarily re…

Sec. 508.145. ELIGIBILITY FOR RELEASE ON PAROLE; COMPUTATION OF PAROLE ELIGIBILITY DATE. Text of subsection as amended by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 557 (H.B. 1422), Sec. 8 (a) An inmate is not eligible for release on parole if the inmate is under sentence of death, serving …

Sec. 508.1455. EARLY RELEASE ON PAROLE FOR CERTAIN INMATES REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PILOT PROGRAM. (a) This section applies only to an inmate: (1) who is serving a sentence for an offense under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, that is pun…

Sec. 508.146. MEDICALLY RECOMMENDED INTENSIVE SUPERVISION. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), an inmate, other than an inmate who is serving a sentence of death or life without parole or an inmate who is not a citizen of the United States, as defined by federal law, may be released o…

Sec. 508.147. RELEASE TO MANDATORY SUPERVISION. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1) and Section 508.149, a parole panel shall order the release of an inmate who is not on parole to mandatory supervision when the actual calendar time the inmate has served plus any accrued g…

Sec. 508.1471. RELEASE TO MANDATORY SUPERVISION OF CERTAIN INMATES CONFINED IN COUNTY JAIL. (a) This section applies only to an inmate who, at the time the inmate is sentenced to a term of imprisonment in the department, is: (1) confined in a county jail; and (2) eligible for imm…

Sec. 508.148. PERIOD OF MANDATORY SUPERVISION. (a) The period of mandatory supervision is computed by subtracting from the term for which the inmate was sentenced the calendar time served on the sentence. (b) The time served on mandatory supervision is computed as calendar time. …

Sec. 508.149. INMATES INELIGIBLE FOR MANDATORY SUPERVISION. (a) An inmate may not be released to mandatory supervision if the inmate is serving a sentence for or has been previously convicted of: (1) an offense for which the judgment contains an affirmative finding under Article …