What does parolee mean?
A parolee is a person who has been released from prison before completing a sentence and is allowed to remain in the community under supervision. The arrangement is conditional: the parolee must comply with requirements imposed by a court or parole authority, which may include reporting to an officer, observing a curfew, or avoiding specified people or places. A breach of parole can lead to the person being returned to custody, and in some cases to the completion of the original sentence. The term is chiefly used in legal, criminal-justice, and administrative settings. In general discussion, “parolee” identifies the individual, while “parole” more often names the release programme or status. Although the word may sound less familiar than “prisoner” or “convict,” it is useful because it captures the legal distinction between someone still serving a sentence in custody and someone serving the remainder of that sentence in the community under supervision.
nounA person who is released from prison before the end of their sentence and remains subject to supervision by a parole authority.
- A prisoner who has been released before the end of a sentence under the supervision of a parole authority.
"The parolee met regularly with a probation officer and was required to remain at the address approved by the court."
"The court ordered the former defendant to remain under parole supervision for three years."
"After complying with every condition of her parole, she was discharged from the programme."
The regular plural is “parolees,” formed by adding -s.
"The programme supports parolees in finding housing and employment while they comply with their supervision requirements."
A parolee is no longer confined in the ordinary sense, but freedom remains conditional: one breach of the conditions can send the person back to prison.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does parolee come from?
The word entered English in the late 18th century from French parole, meaning “word” or “speech,” a word ultimately derived from Latin parlare, “to speak.” Parole had earlier come to mean a promise or pledged word, and its penal sense developed from the practice of releasing a prisoner on the prisoner’s promise to behave lawfully. The suffix in “parolee” identifies a person who is on parole.
How parolee is actually used
This is primarily a legal and administrative term. Its use and the legal consequences of a violation vary by jurisdiction. In British English, the person is sometimes described more generally as a “released prisoner,” though “parolee” is also used.
Easily confused with parolee
A parolee is the person released early from prison under supervision, whereas parole is the conditional release and supervised status itself.