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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.

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 · About you
2 · Quick facts
3 · One story
4 · Your letter
Who are you to them?
How are you related? (optional — we won't guess)
What is the case about? (pick the closest — "Not sure" is fine)
What are they like? (we picked the most common — change freely)
What have they done since the arrest? (judges care about this)
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)
Tell one short, true moment that shows who they are. (optional — this is what makes judges pay attention)
Please only write what really happened. Don't write about the case itself — we'll handle the wording.

What we did for you

    Full letter, Word + PDF download, 3 tone rewrites, and step-by-step instructions for sending it. Your private link: save this link.

    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. Based on published guidance from federal public defender offices, federal district courts and criminal defense attorneys. This page is general information, not legal advice.