The intake interview will be your first opportunity to meet with your parole officer. At this interview you’ll sign a lot of paperwork and be told what you may and may not do on parole. You’ll also submit a urine sample for urinalysis. By law, if you refuse to submit a sample immediately upon your release, your parole officer must arrest you and initiate revocation proceedings. It’s a good idea to treat this interview like you would a job interview. Be on time and be professional. Remember that first impressions can be lasting impressions. Try to build a working relationship with your parole officer from the beginning. This is your opportunity to ask any questions. In particular, make sure you ask whether you have any restrictions on the type of job you can get or locations you won’t be allowed to work in, etc.

The parole agreement/order is a legal document outlining the conditions of release ordered by the parole board. It’s called a parole agreement when someone is released on discretionary parole ,or a parole order when someone is released on their mandatory release date.
There are standard conditions of parole that apply to everyone on parole. The parole board can also set additional conditions for you which will be outlined in the parole agreement/order. At the initial interview, your parole officer will go over the parole agreement/order with you. Always ask questions about anything you don’t understand.

• You must report to your parole officer upon release. Call 800-666-6744 immediately to get instructions on what to do next. Do not wait until the next day.
• You must always live at your residence on record. You may only live at a home or shelter approved by your parole officer. You may not move without permission. You may not spend the night anywhere else without permission. You may not leave the state without permission and a travel permit. If you are in the hospital overnight, you
or a friend should call your parole officer as soon as possible.
• When you sign your parole agreement/order, you are agreeing to comply with every condition of parole. “Honor it. You signed it, “ said one former parolee. “Your word is your word.”
• You must obey every state, federal, and municipal law where you live. You must also obey every legal directive, or order, from a parole officer. Orders may be written or verbal. If you have any contact with the police, you must report the contact to your parole officer.
• You must report to your parole officer as often as directed, allow visits to your residence from your parole officer, be tested for drugs and alcohol, and allow your parole officer to search you, your home, and any car you’re driving. Your parole officer may also carry a portable breathalyzer and test you at any time.
• You may not own or have any firearm or “other deadly weapon.” You may not carry a knife of any kind without permission from your parole officer. If you use a tool like a box cutter at work, you should leave it at work. You may not possess ammunition.
• You may not associate with anyone with a criminal record without the permission of your parole officer. Not knowing someone has a criminal record is not considered a valid reason for violating this condition.
• You must find a job or be in a full-time educational or vocational program unless your parole officer waives this condition. Your parole can be revoked if you don’t find a job, or try to find a job, within a certain amount of time.
• You may not abuse alcohol. You may not possess and/or use illegal drugs. All prescription drugs must be in their original container with your name on the label. You should immediately tell your parole officer when a doctor or dentist prescribes any medication for you.
• You must pay child support if it has been ordered.
• You have to pay for required treatment or classes. Treatment and classes may or may not be on a sliding scale. If you are unable to pay for treatment, ask your parole officer or TASC case manager if you can get a voucher to help pay for treatment.
• Oftentimes, a parole agreement/order will require you to take programs or classes as a condition of parole. This can be frustrating if you already took the class or program when you were in prison. The only way to change a parole condition is when the parole board makes a modification. Your parole officer does not have the authority to change a parole condition on his/ her own.

You must get permission from your parole officer before you enter into any sort of contract such as buying a car or a house, opening a bank account or getting a debit or credit card. You’d be surprised how many things are technically considered to be a contract. Even getting a cell phone may involve a contract.

Your desire and motivation to succeed is the most important factor behind your success. Because you’ll have a lot of responsibilities all at once, some people say that adjusting to being on parole is a lot harder than they’d anticipated. Here are some tips from people on parole and parole officers:

1. Be ready to do everything you need to do to be successful on parole.
2. Follow all of your conditions of parole. Be sure to ask questions about any condition of your parole that you don’t understand.
3. Work on your relationship with your parole officer. One person on parole said, “I had a great parole officer. I was surprised. He was helpful when I relapsed.” Another person said he was able to be “open and honest with my feelings of hopelessness and helplessness” with his parole officer.
4. Attend treatment if you have a substance abuse problem. If you feel like you’re going to relapse, ask for help.
5. Keep busy. You may be able to work more than one job, but don’t overload yourself.
6. Slow down and think about the consequences of any decision before you make it. One bad decision can result in your parole being revoked and going back to prison.
7. Take care of yourself and your responsibilities first. You may feel that you have to help your family and friends now that you’re out, but make sure you aren’t jeopardizing your freedom by helping them.
8. Be smart about the people you spend time with. Stick with positive and supportive people.
9. Everyone has good days and bad days. Bad days are going to happen. Try to let
x them go and stay focused on moving forward.
10. Take responsibility for any mistake but don’t panic.
11. Try to talk through any problem you have with your parole officer. If you have a difficult relationship with your parole officer, treat it like you would a difficult relationship with a boss. Stay professional and respectful.
12. Ask for help when you need it. There are people who can help you get a job, get your ID, and help you stay sober.
13. Develop a support system. Support can come from a variety of sources, not just your family and friends. Don’t forget about community groups, religious counselors, and sponsors.
14. If you’re not sure if you can do something, ask for permission first. Many people on parole said it’s not smart to think you can do something and apologize later if you get in trouble. This may appear manipulative to your parole officer.
15. It’s helpful to take notes at meetings with your parole officer. Your notes can help you remember what was discussed and what you need to do. If your parole officer gives you permission to do something, write it down. Your notes could serve as a written reminder for both of you.
16. Stay organized. You might have a lot of things going on like work, classes, treatment, appointments, etc. You can use a calendar or day planner to help you keep track of your schedule. You can also use it to set goals or mark accomplishments.
17. If you get a write-up, you need to address the behavior immediately. You know what you’re doing. Be honest with yourself. If you need more treatment, get it before the hearing. Try to come to grips with whatever you’re doing that’s going to send you back. Whatever you need more of, get it!
18. If a parole officer learns that you’re using drugs or alcohol from a UA or BA, rather than hearing it from you, you look like you’re trying to get away with something. If you try and deny it, you’re less likely to get help. If you’re honest and are sincere about getting (or going back) to treatment, there’s a better chance that your parole officer will be willing to help you. In other words, don’t wait until they catch you doing something wrong. 20. Be honest and trustworthy. Don’t try to manipulate your parole officer. Don’t say one thing and do another. If you do, you’ll be under an umbrella of suspicion. In the words of one parole officer, “Discovered dishonesty is lethal.”
21. Have endurance. Don’t give up. Being on parole is not easy. There are many expectations and many challenges. Almost everyone on parole will at some point feel overwhelmed, discouraged, frustrated, angry, and hopeless.
One parolee said being on parole was like running a marathon–not a sprint. 22. Don’t let small violations grow into big ones. People make mistakes, and generally small mistakes will not lead to a revocation. If you make a mistake, try to get back on track right away. Don’t let a small mistake snowball into a bigger one. For example, if someone uses drugs and knows his UA is going to be positive, he might try to avoid the situation by not going for the UA. Because he doesn’t go for the UA, he doesn’t go to treatment that week. Then because he doesn’t go to treatment, he doesn’t report to his parole officer. That’s how one problem can snowball. 23. Don’t get complacent. People who have been successful on parole for over a year have ended up being revoked. One person whose parole was revoked said that after two years of parole he “forgot” he was on parole and didn’t follow the rules like he did in the beginning. He said his big mistake was thinking he was free when he wasn’t. No matter how long you’ve been successful on parole, never forget you’re on parole until your discharge date.

If you’re charged with new criminal charges while on parole, take this matter seriously – even if it’s a municipal violation like disorderly conduct or urinating in public.
If convicted, your parole will be revoked and you can be sent back to prison for the remainder of your parole period.

Standard conditions of parole state that you cannot associate with anyone with a criminal conviction (regardless of how long ago it was) unless you have permission from your parole officer. Association is a parole violation. Nevertheless, circumstances may put you into contact with someone with a criminal conviction. It’s important to understand the difference between contact and association.

• If you work with someone else with a criminal conviction, that is contact. (To be on the safe side, you should check this out with your parole officer.) If you go out to lunch with this person without permission from your parole officer, that is association.
• A shelter is considered a group home, so if someone with a criminal conviction is also in the shelter, that is contact. If you leave the shelter to do something with that person without permission from your parole officer, that is association.
• If you go to treatment or classes with someone else with a criminal conviction, that is contact. If you go out for coffee together afterward without permission from your parole officer, that is association. 
You must ask your parole officer for permission to be with anyone with a criminal record, even a spouse or family member. What you will have to do to receive permission will depend upon your circumstances. For example, you may have to go through required treatment or establish a record of being compliant with your parole conditions before getting permission.

If you have to leave your residence due to a crisis (get kicked out) or emergency (medical), call the parole contact
number immediately. Do not wait. Explain your situation and leave the address and phone number of your new location with the operator. Your parole officer must know why you had to leave your residence of record.