Indeterminate Parole Hearing Information

Indeterminate Parole Hearings are held for those individuals in custody that were sentenced for crimes committed prior to 1978, when the sentencing law changed to no longer allow indeterminate sentences.   For many years, this group was referred to as "C numbers".   Their sentence is a span of time such as 10-30 years or 50-150 years.  The individual maywill come before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board every one to five years to request parole after serving the minimum time on their sentence, which is calculated by the Illinois Department of Corrections. 

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board convenes in En Banc (meeting of the full Board or a majority of the Board) once a month to hold these hearings. One Board member is assigned to each case and will to present a synopsis of their interview with the individual in custody and report any testimony given on their behalf or in protest of release. Individuals in support of and in opposition to the individual’s release, including attorneys, may also appear and speak at the hearing.   

Parole is granted or denied to the individual upon a vote of the majority of Board Members assigned to the Board. If the vote is to deny, a Board Member may make a motion for a two to five year set for the next hearing date.  This motion requires a separate vote of the Board. If a set is not determined, the individual may apply again in one year.   

If an individual is paroled by the Board, the parole term is for the duration of their sentence or until such time as a request is reviewed and approved for final discharge.

If an individual is not paroled by the Board and meets their maximum date of release by Statute, they will be released to a parole term of three years if they were sentenced after 1973.  If they were sentenced prior to 1973, their parole term is six months.

Use this link here to review what the members consider during the indeterminate parole hearing and decision process along with a Risk and Needs Assessment, where available.