December 2025

Parole Board Updates

by Libby Hamilton, Director, Victim Liaison Program, Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

It has been almost a year since my last article, when I introduced you to our new Chair, Marsha Moberley. For this edition, I will be providing some updates regarding the Board and our Victim Liaison Program (VLP).

For new subscribers to the Victim’s Informer, the VLP started in early 2017 as a team of two, hired to ensure that victims who speak and meet with the Board have consistently positive experiences. We have since grown into a team of six and are focusing on assisting victims and survivors through the parole review process, as well as providing training to professionals who can impact a victim’s experience with the criminal justice system.

I am excited to announce that the VLP will soon be adding a seventh liaison to the team, and I would like to personally thank Chair Moberley and Governor Abbott’s Office for their continued support. Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funds were instrumental in the program’s inception and have continued to aid in our expansion over the last eight years. We have VLP staff located in Amarillo, Angleton, Austin, Gatesville, Huntsville, and San Antonio which allows us to assist more survivors across Texas and beyond.

Survivors might be wondering, “What can the VLP do for me?”. If you or a loved one are the victim of a violent crime committed by an offender under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), our liaisons are here to help when the inmate becomes eligible for parole. This part of the criminal justice process can often be lengthy and stress-inducing for survivors, and the VLP aims to minimize the anxiety by providing any or all of the following: Updates throughout the parole review process, assistance with preparing to protest/speak with the Board, accompaniment to Zoom and in-person meetings for support, and follow-up once a vote is rendered.

You must be registered with the TDCJ Victim Services Division (VSD) if you want to receive automated status notifications and speak with the Board prior to voting. Once the inmate enters the review process, you will receive a notification from the VSD’s Integrated Victim Services System (IVSS). You can opt-in for accompaniment from the Board’s Victim Liaison Program at any time and customize which services you receive. For example, you might feel that physical accompaniment is not necessary, but updates throughout the process would be beneficial. Note: TDCJ and the Board are separate agencies, but we work closely when it comes to serving victims and survivors. For new registrations, please call the TDCJ VSD at 1-800-848-4284.

One final update: As of September 1, 2025, all meetings with the Board will be limited to 20 minutes, regardless of the type of meeting (phone, Zoom, or in-person).

I encourage everyone to visit the Board’s website where you can read our Frequently Asked Questions, and watch the new VLP video which was, in part, created to address many misconceptions about “parole hearings” in Texas. Both can be found here: Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles Information for Victims.

As always, please feel free to contact me directly at libby.hamilton@tdcj.texas.gov with any questions about the Board, the VLP program, or training opportunities.