SEPTEMBER 8, 2024
Strategy 18:
Legal Standards for Suitability
When you’re preparing for a parole hearing, knowing how the law defines suitability is just as important as personal growth. Strategy 18 – Legal Standards for Suitability demystifies the legal criteria that the Board must use in evaluating parole candidates. The more clearly you understand these standards, the better you can shape your preparation around them.
Strategy 18 – Legal Standards for Suitability breaks down the statutory and regulatory framework guiding parole decisions in California. It clarifies what the Board is legally required to consider—such as insight, remorse, institutional behavior, and plans for the future—and how these factors must be connected to current dangerousness. This strategy helps applicants recognize that the hearing isn’t a moral judgment, but a legal determination governed by specific principles. It encourages individuals to align their parole preparation with the standards actually used to assess readiness.
Notes
Understanding legal standards keeps the process grounded. This strategy explains key case law (like In re Lawrence and Rosenkrantz) and how they impact suitability decisions. Applicants are encouraged to view their preparation through the lens of these standards—demonstrating rehabilitation in a way that addresses the Board’s legal mandate. When you speak the Board’s language, your message carries more weight. This isn’t about legalese—it’s about being strategic.
Recap & Takeaways
Strategy 18 reminds us that parole isn’t just about being a changed person—it’s about showing that change through the legal lens of public safety. By learning the standards and structuring your presentation around them, you increase the chances of being heard clearly. Suitability is determined by whether there is evidence of current dangerousness—not simply past harm. Preparation becomes much more effective when guided by what the law actually requires.
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Each week, we break down a chapter from 36 Strategies of Suitability and explain why it matters.
