How much a lawyer will cost, including a parole lawyer, will vary depending on many factors, such as:
On average, an individual may pay anywhere between $100 to $700 or more per hour for a parole lawyer. It may cost several thousand dollars for an individual to have full representation at a contested parole hearing.
A parole lawyer is a type of attorney who can help an individual with any aspect of parole, including:
A parole attorney can also help an individual understand what is parole and life without parole meaning. A first-time offender is more likely to be put on parole than a habitual offender. An attorney can explain to their client what the requirements and regulations are for their parole.
Generally, convicted defendants have to serve at least one-third of their sentence before they are eligible for release. Once released, an individual is called a parolee and is often required to report regularly to a parole officer.
They may also be required to do community service tasks and not have any new criminal charges or engage in behaviors that are risky or detrimental to society. Some parolees may also be required to complete rehabilitation programs, especially with sexual crimes and drug crimes.
Examples of other requirements that a parolee may have to follow include:
If a parolee breaks the terms of their parole, they may be subject to arrest. If so, they would be required to return to incarceration and finish the remainder of their sentence.
Then penalties a parolee faces if they violate their parole will depend on the laws in the state. A parole officer can often exercise discretion to simply issue a warning when the parolee does not seriously violate the terms of their parole, for example, by only having one glass of alcohol.
When a parolee violates the terms of their parole, they may be required to attend a violation hearing where the judge will decide if the parolee did, in fact, violate the terms of their parole and what penalties they may face as a result. A parole lawyer can represent the parolee during this hearing to ensure their rights are protected.
The prosecution must demonstrate that the parolee violated the terms of their parole by a preponderance of the evidence. This means that it is more likely than not that the parolee violated their parole.
Other examples of penalties that may be imposed when a parolee violates their parole include:
To find out more information about parole, an individual can read LegalMatch’s parole articles.
The cost of hiring a parole lawyer can vary significantly depending on several different factors, such as:
Some parole lawyers may also require clients to pay a retainer fee. This is an up-front payment that works similar to a deposit.
The parole lawyer will charge against the retainer as they do work on the case. Once it is exhausted, the lawyer will be their client by the hour.
A parole lawyer will typically charge an hourly rate for their services. It is also common for them to charge a retainer fee.
If a client has a simple parole case or would only like a specific service, the lawyer may charge a flat fee to handle the issue.
There may be free or more affordable legal options for individuals with parole issues. A parolee may be able to find a pro bono lawyer.
They may also be able to have court fees waived if they cannot afford to pay them. An individual can reach out to their local bar association and legal aid associations in their area.
It is important to note, however, that these services often have eligibility requirements and may only offer limited services. LegalMatch can help an individual find a lawyer in their area who works for their needs and budget and will provide all of the services they need.
Some lawyers, including LegalMatch member lawyers, may also offer free consultations to potential clients, where they waive the consultation fee.
There are many times when an individual should hire a parole lawyer, including when they are accused of violating their parole, incarcerated and want to be granted parole, and have to attend a parole hearing. When a parolee is accused of violating their parole, they should reach out to an attorney as soon as possible because they may face arrest and incarceration for the remainder of their sentence.
When an individual wants to apply for parole, their lawyer can determine if they qualify as well as help them apply with the local Parole Commission. When a parolee has to appear for a hearing, either in court or before a Commission, their attorney will represent them and explain why their parole should not be revoked.
Due to the fact that the regulations that govern parole may vary significantly based on the conviction and from one jurisdiction to another, it is important to have help from a lawyer. In addition, the parole period can vary anywhere from one to ten years, based on the jurisdiction.
It is important for parolees to know that, just because they violate their parole, it does not mean they will automatically have to serve their original sentence. For less severe violations, the individual may only receive a warning.
A parole lawyer can argue on the parolee’s behalf and explain why they should not be subjected to severe punishments. There may be certain technical violations, for example, missing meetings with a parole officer, failing a urine test, or associating with individuals that the parolee was told to not associate with, can be dismissed by the judge or parole officer at the parole violation hearing.
If a parolee can show they are trying their best to adhere to all of the requirements of their parole, they may be able to avoid harsher punishments and may even have small violations dismissed. Having a parole lawyer representing a parolee during interactions with the court or parole agencies can help increase the chance of receiving a lesser punishment.
A parole lawyer may also be able to request a modification of parole, which may include:
A parole board does have discretion to make modifications but their authority is not unlimited. Modifications must be based on factual evidence showing the reason the change is needed.
An individual should also contact a lawyer if they are facing rescission of their parole, which may occur when:
There are many examples of questions that an individual may want to ask a parole lawyer before they hire them, including:
If you have any type of issue, question, or concern about parole, it is important to consult with a parole attorney. You can easily use LegalMatch to find a parole lawyer in your area in just a few steps on the website:
You can use this information to choose a parole lawyer who suits your needs. You are not obligated to hire any of the attorneys with whom you communicate or who respond to your submission.
You can use this information to find a parole attorney in your area with no obligation to hire any attorney who responds to your submission.
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