Eric Smith, now 41, was granted release by the Board of Parole on Friday, October 5, 2021. His violent killing of a four-year-old in 1993 resulted in a conviction for 2nd-degree murder. This was Eric Smith’s 11th time before the Parole Board.
When an offender is eligible for parole depends on the crime and the state in which the crime occurred. Most states allow non-violent first-time offenders to become eligible after serving approximately 15% of their sentence. They can request a hearing before the parole board every two years. While on parole, offenders are assigned to a parole officer throughout their sentence and subject to search without a warrant. Parole violations can result in revocation of parole. However, if evidence of a new crime is observed, an additional search warrant and new charges can follow.
Source: The Associated Press (2021, Oct. 16). ABC News – abcnews.go.com. Lee, C. (2016, Dec. 6) www.quora.com