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Prison Glossary › Letter P

Prison Glossary: Terms Starting With “P”

DOC terminology, BOP vocabulary, and correctional system language starting with P — from Parole to Punitive Segregation.

 
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 
Parole
A supervised release granted by the parole board for which statutory eligibility is usually upon completion of one-half or two-thirds of the imposed sentence; or upon completion of a mandatory minimum amount of time which is statutorily mandated.
Parole Absconder
A parolee who has been granted parole by the Parole Board and who has escaped from custody of the DOC executive director.
Parole Board
A board appointed who has absolute discretion to grant, deny, set conditions, continue, or revoke parole for a DOC offender.
Parole Board Mittimus
The document issued by the Parole Board ordering the modification, continuance, or revocation of parole status for a violation of a condition(s) of parole.
Parole Board Review | Hearing
The Parole Board session in which the Board reviews cases for consideration of release to parole and the conditions of such release decisions.
Parole Board Waiver
The form used for an offender's request for waiving personal appearance before the State Parole Board. This shall apply only to discretionary parole cases.
Parole Directive
An order given by a community parole officer to a parolee that is designated to clarify or enforce an existing condition of parole, or modification of parole, already set by the Parole Board.
Parole Eligibility Date (PED)
The earliest possible parole release date which is established by length of sentence, computation of time served, good time credits earned and/or lost, and governed by statute.
Parole Hold
Offender DOC accounts are frozen to elective withdrawals seven days prior to the offender's discharge or parole date.
Parole Revocation Hearing
An administrative hearing held to determine whether or not a parolee has violated a condition of parole and, if guilty, to determine what sanctions to impose. These hearings are conducted by a member of the Parole Board, an administrative law judge, or an administrative hearing officer on contract with the Parole Board.
Parole Violation
A violation, or alleged violation, of any condition as set by the Parole Board.
Parolee
A person committed to the custody of the executive director of the Department of Corrections, who has been officially assigned to parole status by the Parole Board, or an interstate parolee being supervised in any state.
Partial Expungement
Erasure or striking out of specified portions of a document or documents.
Pat Search (Pat down)
Consists of the removal of outer protective clothing, the emptying of pockets, the physical search of an offender or visitor, screening by any device which does not require disrobing and the inspection of papers, bags, books, or other items being carried. Pat searches of male offenders may be conducted by DOC employees or contract workers of either sex; female offenders may only be pat searched by female DOC employees or contract workers, unless a cross-gender pat search is necessitated by an emergency or immediate security concern.
Perimeter Search
Search of areas outside of the correctional facility such as parking lots, delivery areas, reception areas, yards, fields, and perimeter fence areas.
Person of Interest
The offender who is the subject of the record.
Physical Count
Confirmation by a DOC employee/contract worker of offenders' physical presence through the visual observance of a living, breathing person.
Physical Custody
Any person who is placed under arrest will be taken into physical custody. Arrest means that a person is not free to leave and that the arresting officer has the intent of placing the person into the custody of a jail or other detention facility.
Physical Evidence
Any physical material which may serve as proof in establishing that a crime or violation has been committed.
Physical Search
Any person, to include visitors and citizens, taken into physical custody by a DOC employee will be searched incident to arrest. This search will involve the removal and inspection of outer protective layers of clothing, emptying and inspection of pockets, and the search of any items or premises within the direct control of the person at the time of arrest. All persons taken into the custody of the DOC will be searched prior to transport.
Plethysmograph
A device that measures erectile responses in males to both appropriate and inappropriate stimulus material.
Polydrug Test
Drug tests that screen for the presence of a variety of drugs.
Positional Asphyxia
Breathing impairment caused by a person's body being placed/restrained in such a position that respiratory functions are restricted. This usually occurs when a person is positioned face down, or on their belly. Doing so could possibly cut off the oxygen supply by pressing down on their lungs.
Possess
To knowingly exercise physical control over an object. Knowledge should be conclusively presumed when an object is found on an offender's person, his clothing, or in plain view. Knowledge should be reputably presumed when an object is found anywhere in an offender's cell or in a place where it is likely that only the offender could have placed it. This presumption may be rebutted by evidence that the offender was not responsible for the object's presence. Offenders are presumed responsible for items found in a common area in a multi-occupancy cell. The presumption of responsibility can be rebutted if proven otherwise.
Post
A location, an area, or an accumulation of tasks requiring surveillance, supervision, or control by DOC employees specifically assigned.
Preponderance of Evidence
Evidence which is of greater weight or more convincing than the evidence which is offered in opposition to it; that is evidence which as a whole shows that the fact sought to be proved is more probable than not.
Primary Jurisdiction
The agency who first obtained custody of an offender.
Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003
Federal statute enacted in September 2003 requiring all correctional institutions to assess all incarcerated offenders, whether adult or juvenile, for propensity to commit sexual violence and potential to be victimized by sexual violence and investigate and prosecute those crimes.
Private Prisons
Contracted prisons within the state.
Private Security Agency
A private firm contracted to provide security/offender supervision services to DOC.
Privileges
Include, but are not limited to, single cell occupancy, television, radio, tokens, snacks, hobby work/tools, typewriters, and appliances such as hot pots, fans, and coffee pots.
Probable Cause
The existence of specific, objective facts which warrant a reasonably cautious person to believe an offense and/or rule violation has occurred. Probable cause is more than mere suspicion but less than the quantum of evidence required for conviction.
Professional Respect
Placing a value on the "rights" of others to maintain beliefs, practices, and authorized personal faith property that may differ from one's own.
Provisional Release
For inmates with dates which expire upon a certain timeframe, a provisional release is then under a supervised release but the inmate must meet certain criteria as set by the parole board.
Public Record
All writings made, maintained, or kept by the state or any agency, institution, or political subdivision thereof for use in the exercise of functions required or authorized by law or administrative rule or involving the receipt of expenditure of public funds.
Punitive Segregation
A disciplinary sanction that may be imposed only after a specific disciplinary hearing has taken place, in accordance with administrative regulations.
 

Letter P — Terminology FAQ

Common questions about terms starting with P
What is the difference between parole and supervised release? +
Parole is a discretionary early release from a state prison sentence, granted by a parole board after the inmate serves a required portion of their sentence. Supervised release is the federal equivalent -- but it is not early release. Federal inmates serve their full sentence minus good time, then begin a separate period of supervised release imposed by the judge at sentencing. Federal parole was abolished for offenses committed after November 1, 1987. Violating either results in a revocation hearing and potential return to custody.
What is PREA and what should inmates and families know about it? +
PREA -- the Prison Rape Elimination Act -- requires every correctional facility to have zero-tolerance policies for sexual abuse and harassment, provide multiple ways to report incidents (including anonymous reporting), investigate all allegations, and protect reporters from retaliation. Inmates can report PREA violations to facility staff, outside agencies, or the DOJ. Facilities that fail to comply risk losing federal funding. Families who believe an inmate has been victimized can contact the facility PREA coordinator or file an external complaint.
What is punitive segregation and what rights apply during a disciplinary hearing? +
Punitive segregation is confinement in a restrictive housing unit as punishment for a specific rule violation, imposed only after a disciplinary hearing. At the hearing, the inmate has the right to appear, make a statement, and call witnesses if it would not be unduly hazardous. They do not have a right to an attorney, but may have a staff representative. The decision must be supported by evidence and documented. The inmate can appeal. Loss of good time can only be imposed through the formal disciplinary process, not informally.
What is a parole revocation hearing and what triggers one? +
A parole revocation hearing is an administrative hearing to determine whether a parolee violated a condition of parole and what sanction to impose. It is triggered by a mandatory complaint (required by statute for certain violations) or a discretionary complaint (filed at the supervising officer's judgment). The hearing is conducted by a parole board member, administrative law judge, or hearing officer. The parolee has due process rights including notice of the charges, opportunity to be heard, and a written decision. Revocation can result in return to prison to serve remaining sentence time.
Know the Terms. Understand the System.

The JailGuide prison survival guide explains what these terms mean in practice — how parole hearings actually work, what happens in a disciplinary hearing, what the case manager controls, and how to navigate the system from intake to release.

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