What is the difference between a pardon, a parole and a commutation and how is the Governors Office involved with these?
A. Paroles, commutations and pardons must be approved by the members of the Pardon and Parole Board before being presented to the governor for his consideration. A parole releases an inmate to the street for the remainder of his or her sentence or moves the inmate to a consecutive sentence. It does not eliminate or change the duration of the sentence. A parole always comes with certain conditions such as supervision by a parole officer, and may include conditions such as substance abuse treatment or obtainment of a GED. If the conditions of the parole are violated, the parole can be revoked, returning the inmate to prison for the duration of his or her sentence. A commutation changes the length of a sentence. For example, a 10 year sentence can be commuted to five years. Sentences can also be commuted to “time served,” ending the sentence and releasing the inmate to the street unconditionally. Not all paroles and commutations result in release from prison. Inmates may be paroled or com
