Parole is a term used to describe the release of a prisoner before the completion of their sentence. It is usually granted by a PAROLE board, which is a panel of people who review the prisoner's case and decide whether or not they should be released. Sentence shortener is a tool used by PAROLE boards to reduce the length of a sentence for certain offenders. It is based on the idea that some offenders may have committed less serious crimes and can be safely released earlier than originally planned.