Parole

Corrections doesn’t decide whether an offender is released on parole. When an offender becomes eligible, the New Zealand Parole Board considers their case and decides whether they are released into the community under the supervision of a probation officer.

Some offenders may attend their parole hearing by audio visual link from their prison.

Prisoners serving over two years

Unless the court has imposed a longer minimum non-parole period, all offenders serving sentences of more than two years become eligible for parole after serving one-third of their sentence.

If granted parole, the New Zealand Parole Board must impose at least standard release conditions and it may also impose special conditions on the offender.

Prisoners serving less than two years

Prisoners serving sentences of less than two years are released after serving half of their sentence. They are not seen by the Parole Board but may be subject to release conditions imposed by the court that sentenced them.

More information on parole can be found on the New Zealand Parole Board website.