Light on Suitability
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Light on Suitability Podcast!
Discussion about California parole hearings. Empowering families of loved ones serving a life sentence. Forum where the loved ones of incarcerated persons have their questions answered about the parole hearing process.
Join me each Sunday at 10:00 AM PST alongside Joseph R. Haytas, author of 36 Strategies of Suitability and occasional guests, as we unpack one strategy at a time from this essential guide to parole readiness. These thoughtful, in-depth discussions go beyond explanation, offering real-world insight and practical direction rooted in lived experience and legal understanding.
Whether you’re facing a parole hearing or walking alongside someone who is, this series equips you with the clarity, confidence, and preparation the process demands. Every conversation is a step toward hope and a roadmap for change.
Strategy Thirty – Six: Get Out and Stay Out
JUNE 15, 2025Strategy 36: Get Out and Stay OutFreedom doesn’t just begin at release—it begins with a mindset cultivated long before the gates open. Strategy 36 speaks to the heart of long-term success after incarceration: staying free by living differently. This...
Strategy Thirty – Five: You Were Denied—Now What?
Strategy 35: You Were Denied Now What?Being found unsuitable for parole can feel like a devastating setback—but it’s also an opportunity. Strategy 35: You Were Denied—Now What? is about what happens after the hearing and how you choose to respond. This chapter...
Strategy Thirty – Four: Closing Statement—It’s All About the Victim
Strategy 34: Closing Statement It’s All About the VictimWhen it comes to closing statements at a parole hearing, many overlook one of the most crucial elements: the victim. This strategy invites a powerful shift in focus—away from justification and toward...
Strategy Thirty – Three: Understanding the Role of the District Attorney
MAY 11, 2025Strategy 33: Understanding the Role of the District AttorneyUnderstanding the DA's role at a parole hearing is one of the most overlooked, yet critical aspects of preparation. Many incarcerated individuals and their families are shocked or...
Strategy Thirty – Two: Formulate Realistic Parole Plans
MAY 4, 2025Strategy 32: Formulate Realistic Parole PlansCrafting a thoughtful, achievable parole plan is one of the most vital steps in the suitability process. It’s not enough to express hope or vague intentions—the Board needs to see a concrete roadmap that...
Strategy Thirty – One: A Detailed Relapse Plan – Don’t Go to the Hearing Without It
APRIL 27, 2025Strategy 31: A Detailed Relapse Prevention PlanDon’t Go to the Hearing Without ItA relapse prevention plan is not just a formality—it's your blueprint for sustained freedom. Commissioners expect to see a thoughtful, credible, and personalized...
Strategy Thirty: Insight—What is it? Finding it; Communicating It
APRIL 13, 2025Strategy 30: Insight What is it? Finding it; Communicating ItInsight is more than a buzzword at parole hearings—it's a benchmark of transformation. In Strategy 30, we explore what insight really means, how to develop it, and why the ability to...
Strategy Twenty – Nine: Remorse
MARCH 16, 2025Strategy 29: RemorseParole is not just about programming or staying disciplinary-free—it's about transformation. One of the clearest indicators of this transformation is remorse. In this strategy, we explore what genuine remorse looks like, why it...
Strategy Twenty – Eight: “The Smoking Gun”— Be prepared to talk about the “Weapon”
JANUARY 26, 2025Strategy 28: “The Smoking Gun" Be prepared to talk about the “Weapon”When it comes to parole suitability, some of the most difficult—but crucial—moments involve direct discussion of the life crime and the tools of violence associated with it....
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Every Sunday, we dive into a new chapter of 36 Strategies of Suitability, exploring how each one offers real, practical insight for navigating the parole process.
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Each week, we break down a chapter from 36 Strategies of Suitability and explain why it matters.