The release by executive decision of a prisoner from a federal or state correctional facility who has not served their full sentence and whose freedom is contingent on obeying specified rules of behavior is called a:

• A. Conditional Release
• B. Parole
• C. Probation
• D. Early Release

Answer: (A)

Releasing someone from prison before they’ve served the full term, with freedom contingent on following specific rules, is described as a conditional release. The key idea is that the person is granted early freedom but must comply with conditions and supervision. If they violate those conditions, their release can be revoked and they return to custody. Parole is a common form of conditional release, but the description here emphasizes the idea of freedom granted under conditions, which is captured by the term conditional release. Probation, by contrast, usually refers to supervision in the community as part of a court sentence, not release from prison, and early release is too general.