DECEMBER 8, 2024
Strategy 25:
Credibility—You must be Brutally
Honest
Trust is earned in the hearing room—not just by what you say, but by how truthfully you say it. Strategy 25 underscores the essential role of credibility in parole suitability, emphasizing that nothing carries more weight than brutal honesty. Even when the truth is uncomfortable, owning it shows growth, accountability, and readiness to return to the community.
Strategy 25 – Credibility: You Must Be Brutally Honest calls attention to the importance of truthfulness in every part of the parole hearing process. This strategy teaches that minimizing, deflecting, or offering partial truths erodes your credibility with the Board. It emphasizes that honesty—especially when it’s difficult—is a powerful indicator of insight and rehabilitation. The more open you are about your past, the more trust you build around your present and future.
Notes
-
The panel can usually sense when something is being left out, sugar-coated, or rationalized.
-
Honesty doesn’t mean overexposing or dramatizing—it means taking full ownership without excuses.
-
Credibility is cumulative: how you speak about your crime, your growth, and your victims all matter.
-
The Board evaluates not just facts, but your attitude toward those facts.
Recap & Takeaways
Strategy 25 reinforces that credibility is your most valuable asset at a parole hearing. Being brutally honest—even when it’s uncomfortable, demonstrates emotional maturity and personal responsibility. It’s not about perfection; it’s about authenticity and integrity. When you stop defending your past, you begin defining your future.
Start Listening Today!
Each week, we break down a chapter from 36 Strategies of Suitability and explain why it matters.
