Parole is an arrangement by which a person convicted of a crime spends the remaining time of the sentence outside of prison. People on parole receive an early release provided that they meet certain conditions.
Examples of possible parole violations include the parolee breaking the law or failing to inform the court if he or she changes jobs or moves away. The court may also set terms of parole specific to the offense. For example, if the conviction was for driving while intoxicated, the court may require that the parolee abstain from alcohol or substances. FindLaw provides some examples of possible penalties for parole violations, organized here by approximately the mildest to the most severe.
Increased term of parole
The court can add additional parole time to a person who commits a violation. However, an increased parole term cannot extend beyond the term of his or her original sentence.
Fines
The court can require that an individual who violates parole pay a fine. This can be hundreds or thousands of dollars
Parole revocation
The court can revoke the parole and send the individual back to prison following a violation.
Arrest warrant
If the parole violation is severe enough, the court may issue a warrant for the individual’s arrest.
Additional criminal charges
If the parole violation is a new crime, the individual may face criminal charges for that offense. These may be separate from whatever penalties the court imposes for parole violation.
The penalty an individual may face for parole violation depends on factors such as the severity of the offense.
