Does Parole Board go by the Salient Factor?

The US Parole Commission used the Salient Factor Score to assess a federal inmate's odds of a favorable outcome upon release. Parole no longer exists in federal law. But, the instrument contained seven items: prior convictions, prior commitments, age at first commitment, whether the commitment offense involved auto theft or checks, whether parole had ever been revoked or the inmate is a probation violator, history of opiate dependence, and verified employment or full-time school attendance for at least 6 months during the last 2 years in the community. A total score ranging from 0 to 11 points is assigned; the higher the score, the higher the probability of successful reentry into society.

State prisons that have parole definitely use a system similar in assessing a state inmate offered a parole hearing. These candidates are generally well-behaving inmates that have demonstrated they can function within society and have completed all required programming. Accordingly, they pose a lower risk and are granted release.