age !

of "
u8Al1 verslon 1: !une 18! #$%# &'()*(+ ,-. /)0121(3 *4 50(6+ &)2174'61)83 9-SLrlkes/Callfornla 8eenLry rogram
Source: CA 8eenLry rogram volunLeers, Llfer arole 8oard rep Advlce by C. Carbone, Lsq and S. !ordan, Lsq., Llfer SupporL Alllance

#$%&' )*'+,& -+*'. )'&/*'*0$+1 23&45,$60

The following checklist is a suggestion of things to do in preparation for your parole board
hearing.

WORK IN PROGRESS PLEASE DO NOT SHARE HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED
GENERAL
Chronos
Include all chronos since you last went to the parole board or since the beginning of your life sentence if
this is your first time going.
Support Letters
Consider reaching out to family, friends, prison staff and/or volunteers, and community organizations.
Letters ideally should be specific as to the type of support they will offer post-release (ie...financial and/or
emotional support) or how they have witnessed positive growth while you have been incarcerated. For
those without a strong family or friend support network, consider reaching out to local churches, AA/NA
groups, and other community organizations in hopes that they might be able to offer some post-release
support.












78)9 AlLhough noL all prlsons have Lhe same
opporLunlLles for programs, geL crea*1:(;31<6
up for correspondence classes, read self-help
books or creaLe your own group!
78)9 1yplcally Lhe board llkes for all leLLers Lo
be daLed wlLhln 6 monLhs of your parole
board. Powever, ln some slLuaLlons (such as lf
you plan Lo geL Lransferred soon) you mlghL
wanL Lo requesL a supporL leLLer early so lL can
be added Lo your C-llle.

age : of "
u8Al1 verslon 1: !une 18! #$%# &'()*(+ ,-. /)0121(3 *4 50(6+ &)2174'61)83 9-SLrlkes/Callfornla 8eenLry rogram
Source: CA 8eenLry rogram volunLeers, Llfer arole 8oard rep Advlce by C. Carbone, Lsq and S. !ordan, Lsq., Llfer SupporL Alllance

WORK IN PROGRESS PLEASE DO NOT SHARE HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED
HOUSI NG
OPTI ON 1: Residential Treatment Program
Recommended for everyone, especially for those who have either 1) a history of substance abuse
2) been incarcerated for a long amount of time (~10 + years) OR 3) no other viable and safe
housing plans.

Residential Treatment Program Acceptance Letter (Primary)
Not all programs are willing to write acceptance letters while someone is incarcerated and some counties
have more resources than others. It is an understandably frustrating Catch 22- some programs will not
accept you unless you have a date, but to get a date you need a program! The good news is that there are
programs that understand that and will write lifer letters! However, if you cannot find a place that will
write an acceptance letter then consider paroling to a more resource rich county or make sure the board
knows you are willing to go to a transitional program as a condition of your release.

Residential Treatment Program Acceptance Letter (Secondary/Back-Up)
OPTI ON 2: Other Safe Housing

Letter f rom Family and/or F riends Offering Housing (Primary)
Make sure the letter is specific in terms of where you will be living, who else will be residing in the
house, how long you will be able to stay there and any other arrangements that have been made. Also, be
careIul not to have a housing oIIer that would be considered 'unsaIe. In other words, those who will be
living in the house should be law-abiding as well as clean and sober. This will help give the board
confidence that you will be in a stable environment, but most importantly it will give you the best chance
of a having a smooth transition into the community.

Letter f rom Family and/or F riends Offering Housing (Secondary/Back-Up)









78)9 8ack-up plans, alLhough Lechnlcally noL
requlred, are PlCPL? (reemphaslze- PlCPL?)
recommended by Lhe board. Lven lf lL Lhey
were noL necessary Lo please Lhe board, lL ls
always a good ldea anyway. lL shows
preparaLlon, buL lL wlll also help mlnlmlze
some of Lhe sLress should your prlmary opLlon
fall Lhrough. Lven back-up plans fall Lhrough
Lhough so perhaps more lmporLanL ls your
ablllLy Lo have healLhy coplng sLraLegles Lo
deal wlLh sLress and Lo help geL you Lhrough
dlfflculL Llmes.
78)9 lf you are golng Lo a program Lhen you
llkely wlll noL be able Lo work or go Lo school
for 90-180 days. lL ls good Lo keep Lhls ln mlnd
so LhaL you have reallsLlc expecLaLlons for
when you arrlve aL Lhe program. Lven lf you
are noL golng Lo a program Lhough, lL wlll
probably Lake you aL leasL 60-90 days [usL Lo
geL your soclal securlLy card and/or Callfornla
lu card LhaL wlll be necessary for any [ob.

age ; of "
u8Al1 verslon 1: !une 18! #$%# &'()*(+ ,-. /)0121(3 *4 50(6+ &)2174'61)83 9-SLrlkes/Callfornla 8eenLry rogram
Source: CA 8eenLry rogram volunLeers, Llfer arole 8oard rep Advlce by C. Carbone, Lsq and S. !ordan, Lsq., Llfer SupporL Alllance

WORK IN PROGRESS PLEASE DO NOT SHARE HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED
E MPL OYMENT/I NCOME
OPTI ON 1: Employment

Resume

Job Offer (Primary)
Getting a job offer, let alone a back-up one, is no easy feat while incarcerated. However, it
might be possible in certain situations. Consider reaching out to family/friends that have their
own business or talk to sponsors of prison programs that also have community components that
might be willing to offer you a position upon release. Any job offer that you receive should
include a summary of the task you will be doing along with your hours and rate of pay.
Remember to make sure that your felony record does not legally prohibit you from the type of
position you are being offered though.

Job Offer (Secondary/Back-Up)
Job Search Plan (if no job offer or in addition to job offer)
Looking for a job is a job in itself...it takes a lot of time and patience. Therefore, this is basically
a plan of action as to how you will look for a job. For example, it can include such things as: the
type(s) of job you will focus your search on, where you plan to look for jobs (ex: list specific
websites, temporary employment agencies, career centers, etc..) and who you plan to network
with to increase your chances of finding a job (ex: family/friends, church members, etc..). It
might also include a plan to get by until you find a job.
OPTI ON 2: Social Security (SSDI/SSI) or Other Benefits
For those with significant mental or physical healthy disabilities that prevent them from working OR
those of retirement age (generally 65 and older, but sometimes 62 and older for those with a lot of work
history). Keep in mind that even if you are classified as physically or mentally disabled in prison, it does
not mean you will qualify for social security benefits under Social Security Administration standards.

Statement About Plans to Apply for SSDI/SSI !" $%&%"'()* +%(%,-&*
If you believe you will qualify for these beneIits or Veteran`s beneIits, it might be beneficial to include
information about this somewhere in your plans so that the judge will be aware of why you do not have
any employment plans.

Back-Up Plan If Not Approved for SSDI/SSI or While You Await a Decision
Since you cannot assume you qualify for SSDI/SSI beneIits, it`s a good idea to have a back-up
plan (ex..apply for General Relief). Even if you do qualify for these benefits, it generally takes

age < of "
u8Al1 verslon 1: !une 18! #$%# &'()*(+ ,-. /)0121(3 *4 50(6+ &)2174'61)83 9-SLrlkes/Callfornla 8eenLry rogram
Source: CA 8eenLry rogram volunLeers, Llfer arole 8oard rep Advlce by C. Carbone, Lsq and S. !ordan, Lsq., Llfer SupporL Alllance

about 4 months to get a decision or up to about a month should you qualify based on your age.







WORK IN PROGRESS PLEASE DO NOT SHARE HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED
OT HER

Mental Health Plan
If you have been part of the prison mental health system then you should consider how to
continue this treatment in the community. Identify resources in your community that you will be
able to access upon release.

Budget
This is not necessary, but it can help you prepare for the realities of living on a low fixed income
at least temporarily until you find employment. This can be especially helpful for those whose
need Ior money and/or 'Iast money contributed to their incarceration.

Relapse Prevention Plan
It is a good idea for everyone to create a relapse prevention plan whether your 'addiction is
related to substance abuse or criminal thinking. There are several different formats for relapse
prevention plans, but the main components that you should consider are: identifying your
triggers, identifying ways you plan to avoid those triggers, and identifying specific people and/or
strategies that will help you redirect should you find yourself feeling vulnerable to relapse
(ex.calling your sponsor/Iamily/Iriend, going to a NA/AA meeting, etc..). Make sure that your
relapse prevention plan is specific to your particular needs and available support system.

Short Term Goals (30 days, 6 months and/or 1 year)
Goals not only help you consider and prioritize things, but it also helps show that you have
realistic expectations. Short term goals can include such things as getting your California ID
card, finding a NA/AA sponsor and so on.
78)9 !ob searches can be dlscouraglng for
anyone leL alone ln a Lough economy and wlLh
a felony record. Pavlng reallsLlc expecLaLlons
of whaL Lo expecL as well as a plan Lo geL you
by ln Lhe meanLlme wlll help you Lo beLLer
manage Lhls dlsappolnLmenL ln a healLhy way.
1hls ls especlally Lrue lf one of your Lrlggers
LhaL have led you back Lo prlson ln Lhe pasL
have anyLhlng Lo do wlLh flnanclal sLress or Lhe
need for maLerlal Lhlngs.

age " of "
u8Al1 verslon 1: !une 18! #$%# &'()*(+ ,-. /)0121(3 *4 50(6+ &)2174'61)83 9-SLrlkes/Callfornla 8eenLry rogram
Source: CA 8eenLry rogram volunLeers, Llfer arole 8oard rep Advlce by C. Carbone, Lsq and S. !ordan, Lsq., Llfer SupporL Alllance


Long Term Goals (Beyond 1 year- at least 5 year goals)
Long term goals show that you have positive plans beyond just getting out oI prison. Don`t
worry.it doesn`t have to be anything elaborate, but they do need to be realistic.

THINGS I NEED TO ADD:
Insight Diagram
Letter to Victims
Closing Statement