If you have been convicted of a crime and imprisoned in New Jersey, you may qualify for early release through a parole program provided you meet a strict set of requirements. In New Jersey, you may be eligible for parole after serving one-third of your sentence, or another statutory minimum. If your crime falls under the No Early Release Act, you will have to serve 85 percent of your sentence to be eligible for parole. The New Jersey State Parole Board holds over 20,000 parole hearings each year and grants parole to the majority of inmates.