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​N - R definitions

National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
The abbreviation for the National Crime Information Center; a central repository for information dealing with wanted criminal offenders, stolen vehicles, etc.

Office of Victim Advocate
The OVA Office was established by Act 8-1995, The Victim Advocate Law, to represent the rights and interests of crime victims before the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the PBPP. The Office of Victim Advocate serves as the primary contact on victim issues within PBPP between prosecuting attorneys, victims of crime and victim service programs.

Official Verification
Actual receipt by a person’s supervising parole agent of a direct written communication from a court in which the individual was convicted of a new criminal charge and attesting the person was convicted

Original Sentence
The sentence resulting from the original conviction.  It is from this sentence the Board paroles the inmate and the parolee serves the remaining time on the street unless recommitted by the Board

Order of Service of Sentence
The Parole Act specifies that a Convicted Parole Violator must serve any new sentence of confinement before his/her backtime, if the new sentence is to a prison other than the prison of original parole (all state prisons are considered to be one prison). If the new sentence is to the same prison, backtime must be served first

Other State Detainer
A warrant lodged by a state other than Pennsylvania

Panel
A two-member unit of the Parole Board comprised of either two Board Members or one Board Member and one Hearing Examiner, empowered to make parole release decisions and recommitment decisions

Pardon
The term refers to the highest form of executive clemency, freeing a person from the legal consequences of the person’s crime. It is forgiveness only and does not establish innocence, nor does it erase the fact of conviction. Legally, it has the effect of clearing the person's name so that a conviction is not held against the individual for such purposes as Civil Service Commission examinations, deportation, being bonded, and holding public office. The granting of a pardon does not result in automatic expungement of the applicant's record.

Parole
The conditional release from imprisonment of an inmate from a correctional facility to serve the remainder of his/her unexpired sentence in the community under supervision as long as (s)he satisfactorily complies with all terms and conditions provided in the parole order
 
Parolee
Any person subject to the parole or probationary supervision of the Board

Parole Decisional Instrument (PBPP-361)
An instrument used by the PA Board of Probation and Parole to assist in the process of parole consideration

Parole Rescission
Rescinding a grant of parole for good cause other than a violation of a parole condition or a conviction of a crime committed during the period of parole

PBPP-39 (order to detain and commit)
The official PA Board of Probation and Parole document informing a correctional facility that a parolee has been recommitted. It defines service of backtime credit and, when appropriate, gives the newly calculated maximum sentence date

Philadelphia Photo Number
A unique seven digit number assigned to all individuals arrested in Philadelphia

Plan of Supervision
The terms, under which a parolee will be supervised, including proposed residence, proposed employment or viable means of support and the terms and conditions of supervision

Pre-sentence Investigation
An investigation of the relevant background of a convicted inmate, designed to act as a sentencing guide for the sentencing judge

Presumptive Range
A period of recommitment, set as a minimum and maximum term of months for each condition of parole as well as most criminal offenses, that a parolee who violates his/her parole may expect to spend in confinement prior to being eligible for reparole

Prison Rape Elimination Act
Fact Sheet (English) (pdf)
Fact Sheet (Spanish) (pdf)

Probable Cause
The standard of proof for preliminary and detention hearings; is it more likely than not that the violation occurred

Probation
A sentence whereby an individual serves the period of time mandated by the sentencing court in the community under the supervision of either county or state authorities rather than being imprisoned; subject to the terms and conditions imposed by the sentencing court

Preponderance of the evidence
The standard of proof for revocation and violation hearings; does most of the evidence indicate the violation occurred

Rebuttable Parole
A statutorily designated non-violent inmate who has been certified by the DOC based on a good conduct record and nonviolent history

Receiving State
A state or jurisdiction where the parolee is receiving interstate compact supervision

Recidivism
The term used to express the percentage of return to criminal activity or persons previously convicted of crimes

Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive (RRRI)
A sentence imposed upon a non-violent inmate that can allow them the opportunity to reduce their minimum sentence upon completion of recommended programming, and while maintaining a good conduct record

Recommitment
The return of a parolee to prison for violation of the conditions of his/her parole or because of a conviction for a new crime. An administrative determination that an offender, because (s)he has violated parole, should be reentered into an institution to serve all or part of the unexpired term of his/her sentence.

Release Order
The official document that is used to release an inmate on parole.  It specifies from which sentences the inmate is being paroled

Remand
To send back into custody

Reparole Date
The date that the violator is eligible for reparole release

Rescission
The revocation of a grant of parole based upon an inmate's conduct occurring prior to release on parole which conduct is unknown to either the Parole Board or to the sentencing court at the time parole was granted; the revocation of a grant of parole before it is executed by the offender's actual release from incarceration.

Restitution
In criminal law, the individual is required to pay, as a condition of sentence, the victim or society in money or services

Return/Detain
Synonymous actions, which indicate that an inmate should either be returned to, or continued in, custody pending disposition of outstanding criminal charges

Review Date
The month and year an inmate is eligible for parole/reparole review

Revocation Decision
A decision to recommit a person to prison after a revocation or violation hearing