Amidst public confusion about the status of parole in Arizona, the Cochise County Attorney's Office brought some clarity on this criminal justice term. Deputy County Attorney Michael Powell, in a statement published on the county website, explained that Arizona has indeed abolished the traditional concept of parole in favor of what's known as community supervision.
What this means for inmates in Arizona is that they're expected to serve at least 85% of their sentence behind bars, Powell specified. The remaining part of the sentence, roughly 15%, can be spent under community supervision. This isn't the old-style parole that allowed for a possible earlier discretionary release; instead, inmates have to do the lion's share of their time before transitioning back into society under supervision. Certain convictions, like major violent crimes and offenses such as assisting a human smuggling organization, are exempt from this system and offer no early release option.
The case of Erick A. Diliz, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, illustrates the procedure for offenders in Arizona seeking release after serving a significant portion of their sentence. Powell noted that Diliz becomes eligible to petition the Board of Executive Clemency after 25 years, but that "is not a guarantee of release, nor is it the same as parole." It's a distinct process involving a review and recommendation, with the final call made by the Governor of Arizona.
