From: https://www.paradisestation.org/wiki/index.php/Legal_Standard_Operating_Procedure#Parole
Current requirements to get parole:
If someone is an EOC, OR has committed a capital crime, then parole is only allowed if authorized by the Magistrate or Captain. They should not authorize this unless it is a serious emergency and the parolee is expected to help deal with the emergency. For example, a non-violent syndicate engineer may be paroled to help fight a blob.
For all other prisoners, Magi/Captain/HoS/Warden may authorize parole at their discretion. They are advised to consider how severe the prisoner's crimes are, how co-operative they have been with security, and whether or not they are expected to commit any further crimes.
Proposed new requirements to get parole:
Prisoners guilty of capital(5xx) crimes are only eligible for parole in a serious emergency, with the authorization of the Magistrate or Captain, and the expectation they'll help deal with the emergency. For example, a murderer may be paroled to help fight a blob.
All other prisoners, including EOCs not guilty of a capital crime, can be paroled at the discretion of the Magistrate/Captain/HoS/Warden. When considering whether to grant parole, consider how co-operative the prisoner has been with security, and whether they're expected to commit any further crimes.
In parole decisions, the Magistrate can overrule the Captain/HoS/Warden, the Captain can overrule the HoS/Warden, and the HoS can overrule the Warden.
What this changes:
EOCs who have committed no capital crime are now easier to parole. The idea is that if someone is brought in for trespass and found to have an emag, they can now be paroled, have their PDA/emag confiscated, and get a second shot rather than being guaranteed to spend the rest of the shift in perma. This relies on them being able to convince the Captain/Magi they won't re-offend. Basically it allows traitors/etc to be depowered (stripped of contraband, uplink, etc) but remain somewhat free, rather than always going to perma for the rest of the shift. This isn't automatic - it relies on them being able to convince Magi/Cap/HoS/Warden they deserve parole.
The idea is that this reduces the incentive for EOCs to go full lethal against sec, and vice versa, as being caught by sec is no longer a guaranteed round-ender for the antag.