California Parole, Probation and Release
Questions About Where Inmates Can Parole
Under Penal Code Section 3003, the inmate must parole back to the last legal residential address area where she or he lived prior to being arrested. If the inmate was homeless or from out of state, he or she would parole back to the county where the crime was committed.
To read the Legislative Code that sets these rules in place, download this Word document:
Penal Code Section 3003
Here are the exact steps needed to be taken by an inmate to be considered for an inter-county transfer. This will only allow a parolee to go to another county WITHIN California. It is rarely granted.
Steps for requesting an Out of County transfer:
Approximately 150 days prior to the release date from state prison an inmate will fill out a 611 form which is the information of where they will be paroling to.
On the 611 form a check mark needs to be placed in the box “Out Of County Transfer”.
Once the forms are signed by the inmate, the counselor will send it off to the records department. At that time records will make copies for the Inmate’s Central file, and mail all the originals to the County in which the Inmate last resided.
Allow at least two weeks for the region to receive the parole packet.
The packet will make it to the Re – Entry department at the Parole Headquarters.
Within 21 days the packet will then be sent out to the Parole Office in the city or, within 35 miles from where the inmate last lived. Once this region sees that the inmate is seeking a transfer to another county, they will fill out a TIR (Transfer Investigation Report) to be sent to the new region.
The unit where the inmate last resided near will set Special conditions of parole (if required) and send them to the inmate to sign at the Institution. The conditions will be sent along with the TIR. And yes, the new region can modify changes to the parole conditions based on there need to.
The files will be entered into the system by a clerk, then given to a supervisor to go over and assign to an agent.
The time period that is allowed is 15 working days the most.
An agent will then contact the person listed on the 611 form that has the residence where the parolee is trying to get transferred to. You will be asked a series of questions (see below). This does not always happen first, the agent may just show up at the residence unexpected.
The parole agent will come out and speak to the person(s) living in the home, ask if you are aware of the controlling commitment offense that the inmate is currently in prison for, and past history.
Once the agent does the home visit, they will take it back to the unit and go over the file with the Supervisor. A decision is usually made immediately, or within a few days.
If the transfer is approved it will be sent to back to the prior region “approved”, at that time then the region will send over the entire file to the new region where the parolee will reside.
Note: this whole process from the time the prison mails off the Parole packet will take up to 2 months before the requested region will get the paperwork. It all depends on how backed up the parole units are.
Frequently Asked Questions about Out Of County Transfer:
Do you need to be married? Preferably, but not required; the agent will ask this question.
Are you going to financially be supporting the parolee? The agent will ask this question. On the form 611 the inmate can list if they have employment plans upon release from Prison. If so, listing the names and numbers of the employers will help.
Can sex offenders get an out of county transfer? Of course they can request to be, but it’s all up to the unit whether they feel the move will be a positive or a negative impact on the chances of the parolee discharging parole.
Headquarters Locations & Phone Numbers;
Region I Parole Headquarters
9825 Goethe Road, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95827-2572
(916) 255-2758
Region II Parole Headquarters
1515 Clay Street, 10th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 622-4701
Region III Parole Headquarters
320 West 4th Street, Suite 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 576-6500
Region IV Parole Headquarters
21015 Pathfinder Road, Suite 200
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
(909) 468-2300
Steps for requesting an Out of County transfer:
Approximately 150 days prior to the release date from state prison an inmate will fill out a 611 form which is the information of where they will be paroling to. On the 611 form a check mark needs to be placed in the box “Out Of County Transfer”. Once the forms are signed by the inmate, the counselor will send it off to the records department. At that time records will make copies for the Inmate’s Central file, and mail all the originals to the County in which the Inmate last resided. Allow at least two weeks for the region to receive the parole packet. The packet will make it to the Re – Entry department at the Parole Headquarters. Within 21 days the packet will then be sent out to the Parole Office in the city or, within 35 miles from where the inmate last lived. Once this region sees that the inmate is seeking a transfer to another county, they will fill out a TIR (Transfer Investigation Report) to be sent to the new region. The unit where the inmate last resided near will set Special conditions of parole (if required) and send them to the inmate to sign at the Institution. The conditions will be sent along with the TIR. And yes, the new region can modify changes to the parole conditions based on there need to. The files will be entered into the system by a clerk, then given to a supervisor to go over and assign to an agent. The time period that is allowed is 15 working days the most. An agent will then contact the person listed on the 611 form that has the residence where the parolee is trying to get transferred to. You will be asked a series of questions (see below). This does not always happen first, the agent may just show up at the residence unexpected. The parole agent will come out and speak to the person(s) living in the home, ask if you are aware of the controlling commitment offense that the inmate is currently in prison for, and past history. Once the agent does the home visit, they will take it back to the unit and go over the file with the Supervisor. A decision is usually made immediately, or within a few days. If the transfer is approved it will be sent to back to the prior region “approved”, at that time then the region will send over the entire file to the new region where the parolee will reside. Note: this whole process from the time the prison mails off the Parole packet will take up to 2 months before the requested region will get the paperwork. It all depends on how backed up the parole units are.
Frequently Asked Questions about Out Of County Transfer:
Do you need to be married? Preferably, but not required; the agent will ask this question.
Are you going to financially be supporting the parolee? The agent will ask this question. On the form 611 the inmate can list if they have employment plans upon release from Prison. If so, listing the names and numbers of the employers will help.
Can sex offenders get an out of county transfer? Of course they can request to be, but it’s all up to the unit whether they feel the move will be a positive or a negative impact on the chances of the parolee discharging parole.
Headquarters Locations & Phone Numbers;
Region I Parole Headquarters
9825 Goethe Road, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95827-2572
(916) 255-2758
Region II Parole Headquarters
1515 Clay Street, 10th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 622-4701
Region III Parole Headquarters
320 West 4th Street, Suite 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 576-6500
Region IV Parole Headquarters
21015 Pathfinder Road, Suite 200
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
(909) 468-2300
