When will I find out the conditions of my parole, including any special conditions that apply to me?

WARNING

Your parole may be revoked for 6 months if you (1) refuse to give any required DNA sample prior to release, or (2) refuse to sign any documents acknowledging a duty to register as a sex offender. (See Cal. Penal Code § 3060.5).

    WHILE INCARCERATED:

Your correctional counselor should inform you of your parole conditions at least 45 days before your release, using a CDCR Form 1515: “Notice and Conditions of Parole.”[458] You will be asked to sign the Form 1515.[459] You will also be given a copy of the Form 1515 for you to keep upon your release. Even if you disagree with a special condition listed in the Form 1515, it is usually best to sign the Form 1515 and comply with the conditions while at the same time taking steps to challenge any disputed condition through the appeals process (see PG. 178). If you don't sign the form, you might not get out of prison until the matter is resolved.[460]

    ONCE YOU’RE RELEASED:

When you are out and you first meet with your parole agent, he or she should give you a copy of your Form 1515 to keep, and he or she should explain ALL the general and special conditions of your parole.[461] It is important that you fully understand your parole conditions. If you do not understand some or all of them, ask your parole agent to clear up your questions or concerns.

If your parole agent doesn’t present you with the Form 1515 in your first meeting, you should ask him or her to do so. Again, it is very important that your parole agent explains to you all your conditions of parole — and if he or she does not do so, you should ask.

  1. 458

    15 Cal. Code Regs. § 3075.2(b)(2)(A). ↑

  2. 459

    15 Cal. Code Regs. §§ 3075.2, 3502. CDCR Form 611 is used for the Release Program Study and CDCR Form 1515 is used to notify parolees of their conditions of parole. ↑

  3. 460

    Prison Law Office, The Parolee Rights Manual at 17, http://www.prisonlaw.com/pdfs/ParoleeManual,Aug2013.pdf.

    15 Cal. Code Regs. 3075.2(b)(3)(B) (“A unit supervisor or higher level staff may place an inmate or parolee refusing to sign the CDC Form 1515 into custody pending a revocation hearing.”). Although the BPH regulations still contain a rule that parolees must sign their conditions of parole, it is unclear whether this provision is still enforced in cases in which the BPH has parole authority. ↑

  4. 461

    DOM § 81010.16; 15 Cal. Code Regs. § 3075.2(b)(3)(A). ↑