What does it mean when an inmate comes up for parole?
When people say coming up for parole, it means that an inmate is reaching his/her minimum sentence. Pennsylvania has a minimum and maximum sentencing structure; therefore, inmates are sentenced to a minimum sentence and a maximum sentence. For example, an inmate may receive a five to ten year sentence. Five years is the minimum and ten years is the maximum. Parole in Pennsylvania is a privilege, not a right and inmates must serve their minimum sentence before they can be released on parole. When an inmate is granted parole, a parole agent supervises them in the community until the expiration of their maximum sentence.
