The First Ninety Days

A Letter From Chuck Hopple

When I paroled from San Quentin, after serving about seven years, I was not going to make the same mistakes others had before me, who
attempted to transfer their parole out of state through the Interstate Compact Commission. No, I paid off my restitution early. I did not submit my application late, but early. I performed my research, obtained a copy of the Interstate rules, and submitted a “great” application. Although I couldn’t get any definitive information about my transfer to Oregon, while in prison, I was confident that “all was well.”

Consequently, I arranged for my sister from Oregon to pick me up at the gate. We were simply going to report in at the San Jose parole office on Monday morning, and then continue on to Oregon. Well, it didn’t quite work out that way. When I got to the parole office, they had nothing on my parole transfer. Apparently, because my counselor accepted and processed my application earlier than the “120 days to the house” rule, the Interstate Compact Commission threw out my application without any notification to my counselor or San Quentin.

“Veteran” convicts had often told me that after serving such a
lengthy sentence that the parole agent will likely give me a 30-day
pass to visit family. I therefore asked for a 30-day pass. This was
denied. I then asked the agent to process my application for a
parole transfer. This too was denied. The agent said that I would
have to give him 90 days before he considers either.

Fortunately, I have been financially able to fend for myself, while I pass these 90 days. My parole transfer is in process, and supposedly is informally approved. I am currently attending a mad-paced summer semester at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, ending late July.

So, as you can see, I didn’t make the same mistakes as others before me. I made different mistakes.

Best wishes, Chuck Hopple