The Wisconsin Parole Commission is the final authority for granting discretionary paroles or early release from prison for sentences handed down for crimes committed before Dec. 31, 1999.

The Commission conducts interviews with eligible inmates sentenced to the custody of the DOC. A commissioner meets with an inmate individually and makes an independent decision on the possibility of a grant.

The Parole Commission is an independent commission attached to the DOC for administrative purposes but implements its statutory responsibilities independently. The Governor appoints the commission's chairperson with the advice and consent of the senate for a two-year term. Other commission members are hired in accordance with the civil service system and report to the chairperson.

Parole Commission Guidance Documents

Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 304
Wisconsin Administrative Code PAC 1

Criteria for Parole

Parole consideration is an entitlement, however, parole is not. Each case is measured on an individual basis and parole consideration is based on the following criteria:

Reached their Parole Eligibility Date.
Served sufficient time for punishment so as not to depreciate the severity of their offending behaviors.
Maintained positive institutional adjustment.
Completed assessed program needs with maximum benefit achieved.
Completed and submitted a workable parole plan, which offers the inmate a realistic opportunity for a stable residence, employment, and programming, if needed.
Reduced his / her level of risk to the public. This can be measured by considering his / her past criminal record, the institutional conduct record, prior probation and parole violations / revocations, security classification history, and if there are any unmet treatment or program's needs.

Also considered is information contained in the institution case file, the actual interview, and correspondence received both for and against release on discretionary parole.

Note: Letters commenting on the parole eligibility for inmates must be received by the Parole Commission office at least one month in advance of the scheduled eligibility consideration interview to insure that they are processed and forwarded to the institution and placed in the file prior to the eligibility consideration interview.

Truth-In-Sentencing

Under Wisconsin's Truth-in-Sentencing laws, any person who commits a felony offense on or after Dec. 31, 1999, and is sentenced to at least one year in prison will not be eligible for parole. They are generally required to serve the entire sentence imposed by the Court, with some exceptions for early release. Offenders who violate prison rules may have additional days added to the confinement portion of their sentence.

Upon completion of the confinement portion of their sentence, an offender must serve a period of Extended Supervision in the community under the supervision of a DOC community corrections agent. At the time of sentencing, a judge determines the length of confinement and the length of Extended Supervision an offender must serve. By law, the length of Extended Supervision must be at least one-quarter of the time of confinement.

Parole consideration exists only for offenders that have committed a felony before Dec. 31, 1999, prior to the effective date of the Truth-in-Sentencing law.