How to Find Out When Your Inmate Will Be Released or Be Eligible for Parole

Release and parole eligibility dates depend on several factors and the answer is different depending on where your loved one is incarcerated and what they were convicted of.

For federal inmates, there is no parole. The federal system abolished parole in 1987. Federal inmates serve a determinate sentence and are required to serve at least 85% of their sentence before release. The remaining time is served on supervised release in the community. The Bureau of Prisons publishes each federal inmate's projected release date in its online locator at bop.gov/inmateloc. That date reflects good time credits already applied and is updated as credits are earned or lost.

Federal inmates may also reduce their sentence through participation in approved programs. The First Step Act created earned time credits that can accelerate release for inmates who complete approved educational and vocational programs. The Residential Drug Abuse Program known as RDAP can reduce a sentence by up to 12 months for eligible inmates.

For state inmates parole eligibility varies by state and by the nature of the conviction. Some states have determinate sentencing similar to the federal system. Others have indeterminate sentencing where a parole board reviews each case individually at set intervals. Your loved one's sentence paperwork will indicate their earliest parole eligibility date. Their case manager at the facility can also provide this information.

For county jail inmates sentences are typically shorter and fixed. Release dates are generally straightforward and can be confirmed by contacting the facility directly.

The honest answer is that release dates can change in either direction. Good behavior, program participation, and earned credits can move a date earlier. Disciplinary incidents can push it back. Staying connected through regular calls, letters, and visits gives your loved one the motivation to protect their record and their release date.