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How to write a parole support letter

Parole boards read support letters looking for one thing above all: a real plan. Where will the person live, how will they get to work, who will help them stay on track? Put that where the board can’t miss it.

Quick answer: A parole support letter should lead with the release plan: where the person will live, a job or job search support, transportation, and who will hold them accountable. Then explain how you know them, the change you have seen, and exactly what support you will provide. Address it to the parole board, keep it to one page, sign it, and don’t argue the original case.

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Put the release plan near the top

Guidance written for parole applicants’ families is consistent on this point: the concrete support you are offering is the most important part of the letter, so don’t bury it at the end. Be specific:

  • Housing — where they will live, who else lives there, how long they can stay.
  • Work — a job offer with the employer’s name and role, or specific help finding work.
  • Transportation — who will drive them to work, parole appointments and treatment.
  • Recovery and support — meetings near the home, a counselor, a mentor, a faith community.

Then describe the change you have seen

How have you stayed in contact, and what is different now? Programs completed, education, how they talk about the harm they caused. Stick to what you have seen or heard yourself.

What parole boards distrust

  • Calling the crime a “mistake” or downplaying the harm.
  • Calling the person a “model inmate” without facts to back it up.
  • Telling the board what it should decide.
  • General praise with no plan attached.

Sample release-plan paragraph

When Darnell is released, he will live with me in my two-bedroom house in Stockton, where he will have his own room. My cousin, who owns a welding shop ten minutes away, has offered him a full-time job, and I will drive him to work and to every parole appointment until he can get there on his own. There is a Tuesday-night AA meeting at our church, and I will go with him.

Fictional example.

Write yours in about 3 minutes

We start from this page’s situation — just check a few boxes and add one true story.

1 · You
2 · What you've seen
3 · Your story
4 · Your letter

Let's start with you.

There are no wrong answers, and you can change anything later.

Who are you to them?
Family relationship (optional)
What is the case about? (pick the closest — "Not sure" is fine)

Tell us about them.

Only what you know to be true — a judge can tell the difference.

What are they like? (optional — only choose what you know is true)
What have they done since the arrest? (judges weigh this — only check what's true)
About you — for the opening line and signature (optional, you can add it later)
How will you support them after release? (housing, a job, rides — the board looks for this)

The moment you'd want the judge to see.

One true memory does more than any list of good qualities. Small, everyday moments are often the most powerful.

What have you seen them do? (optional, but it's the heart of the letter)
Write it the way you'd tell a friend. Details help: who, where, what they did. Please don't write about the case itself — we'll handle that part carefully.
Looking ahead, how will you stand by them? (optional — judges look for a real support system)
Does anyone depend on them? (optional)

Here is the beginning of your letter.

What we did for you

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    Print-ready version
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    Questions people ask

    What should a parole support letter include?

    Who you are and how you know the person, how you have stayed in contact, positive changes you have seen, and — most important — the specific help you will give after release: housing, a job, transportation, or support with treatment.

    Who do I address a parole support letter to?

    “Dear Members of the Parole Board,” is the standard greeting. Check the board’s instructions for the exact mailing address and any ID number to include.

    When should I send a parole support letter?

    Well before the hearing. Many attorneys recommend letters dated within the last 6–12 months, and updating older letters so the board knows your support is current.

    Can I send a letter if I haven’t visited?

    Yes. Say how you have stayed in touch — letters, calls, video visits — and be honest about it.

    Last reviewed 2026-09-28. This page is general information, not legal advice. It follows published guidance from federal defender offices and federal courts, including:

    How we use these sources and test our letters: about CharacterLetter.com.