Accountability.
If you are sitting in Houston right now trying to figure out what to do next — trying to find someone who can actually help get your loved one home — you are in one of the best possible positions of any family in the state of Texas.
Not because the parole process is easy. It isn’t. Not because the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles is forgiving. It isn’t always that either. But because Houston happens to be home to some of the most accomplished parole attorneys in Texas, and the families who find the right one early in the process tend to have very different outcomes than the families who don’t.
Here are the Houston parole attorneys we believe families should know about — and why.
The Attorneys We Recommend for Houston
Mary E. Samaan — Houston Parole Attorney Ranked #2 in Texas
Houston, Texas | Starting at $4,000
There are Texas parole attorneys who handle cases. And then there is Mary Samaan — a Texas parole lawyer who handles people.
Over thirty years of practice in Texas parole law have given her something that cannot be taught: the ability to walk into a case, read it completely, and know exactly what it needs. Her clients consistently describe the same experience — she makes the case feel personal because to her it actually is. Every single one.
What sets her apart in a way that still surprises people when they hear it is this: she turns clients away. When her caseload reaches a point where she cannot give each case the full personal attention her track record demands, she stops accepting new clients. She doesn’t cut corners. She doesn’t hand your case off. She waits until she has the bandwidth to do the job right.
And if she doesn’t believe she can win — she will tell you. She has built a reputation for being honest with families about their chances rather than simply telling them what they want to hear. That kind of integrity is almost unheard of in any profession, let alone law.
For families worried about logistics — nine times out of ten, an attorney of her caliber can be fully retained over the phone. No drive required.
To learn more about Mary E. Samaan, click here.
Lori K. Redmond — Houston Parole Attorney Ranked #3 in Texas
Houston, Texas | Starting at $3,500
Lori Redmond has built her reputation on two things: results and communication. In the parole world, those two things together are rarer than you’d think.
Families who have worked with her consistently point to the same quality — she keeps people informed. She answers the phone. She responds to emails. She makes sure the family at home, who is waiting and hoping and carrying one of the heaviest burdens a person can carry, actually knows what is happening with their loved one’s case.
That responsiveness is not a small thing. The parole process is disorienting for families. There are long stretches of silence and uncertainty that can feel unbearable. Redmond addresses that directly, and it is part of why she is regarded as one of the most trusted parole attorneys in Texas for families who value being kept in the loop.
Her track record in challenging cases is equally strong. She has secured parole for clients in situations where the odds were not favorable, and she approaches every case with the strategic depth of someone who knows the TDCJ system inside and out.
Based out of Stafford, just southwest of Houston, retention is typically handled over the phone in most cases — no in-person visit necessary to get started.
To learn more about Lori K. Redmond, click here.
Mani Nezami — Houston Parole Attorney Ranked #6 in Texas
Houston, Texas | Parole Solutions Law Group
Mani Nezami brings something unique to the table — he practices as part of the Parole Solutions Law Group (Haughton, Dubose & Nezami, PLLC), which means his clients get the depth of a dedicated team rather than a solo practitioner working alone.
The firm’s approach is comprehensive and detail-oriented. They understand that parole representation is not just about showing up to a hearing — it is about building a case that tells the parole board who this person is, what they have done to prepare for release, and why they deserve a second chance. That kind of case-building takes time, attention, and resources that a full team is better positioned to provide.
For Houston families looking for a well-rounded parole law firm with multiple experienced advocates in their corner, Nezami and his colleagues at Parole Solutions are a strong option. And like most top Texas parole attorneys, initial consultations and retention are typically handled entirely by phone.
To learn more about Mani Nezami, click here.
Terry H. Peden — Houston Parole Attorney Ranked #7 in Texas
Houston, Texas | Starting at $4,500
Terry Peden has earned his place among the top parole lawyers in Texas through years of dedicated practice and an unwavering commitment to his clients. His firm, The Law Group of Terry Henderson Peden, PLLC, operates out of Houston and serves families across the state.
What stands out about Peden is his dedication to the process itself — the preparation, the documentation, the presentation. He understands that the parole board makes decisions based on what is in front of them, and he works to make sure what is in front of them is as compelling and complete as possible.
His clients appreciate his professionalism and his thoroughness. For families who want an attorney who takes the preparation seriously and leaves nothing on the table, Terry Peden is worth a serious look.
Retention is typically handled over the phone — no in-person meeting required to get started.
To learn more about Terry H. Peden, click here.
Cheri A. Abbage — Houston Parole Attorney Ranked #8 in Texas
Bellaire, Texas | Starting at $2,500
For Houston-area families, Cheri A. Abbage offers something no other attorney on this list can — she is right there with you. Based in Bellaire in the greater Houston area, Abbage brings the same standard of dedicated Texas parole representation that families across the state have come to expect from the best parole attorneys in Texas, with the added comfort of knowing your attorney understands this community personally.
Abbage operates a virtual-first practice, meaning families can begin the retention process immediately by phone — no waiting, no scheduling delays. Her statewide practice covers parole hearings and revocation matters throughout Texas, and her accessibility makes her particularly well suited for Houston families who want responsive, personal attention from an attorney who is genuinely invested in reuniting their family.
In-person meetings are available by appointment, and payment plans are available for families who need them.
To learn more about Cheri A. Abbage, click here.
Other Top Texas Parole Attorneys Are Available to Houston Families
Gary J. Cohen — Ranked #1 in Texas
Austin, Texas | The Cohen Parole Law Team
When families ask the Institute for Attorney Oversight who the best parole attorney in Texas is, Gary Cohen’s name leads the conversation. It has for over two decades.
Cohen is based in Austin and practices exclusively in Texas parole law. Not criminal defense on the side. Not a general practice that occasionally handles parole cases. This is the only thing he does — and the depth of mastery that comes from that singular focus is something that sets him apart from virtually every other parole attorney in the state.
His track record speaks directly to why families from across Texas seek him out. Cases where the odds were long. Cases where families had already been told no. Cases where other attorneys had declined. Cohen has a documented history of finding the strategy, building the argument, and getting people home.
His fees generally reflect both the demand for his services and the complexity of the cases he accepts. For Houston families who can make that investment, it may be among the most consequential decisions they make for their loved one’s future. Retention is handled over the phone in virtually every case — no trip to Austin required.
To learn more about Gary J. Cohen, click here.
Roger M. Nichols — Ranked #4 in Texas
Austin, Texas | The Law Office of Roger Nichols
There is one fact about Roger Nichols that no other parole attorney in Texas can match, and every Houston family considering parole representation should know it.
From 2003 to 2009, Roger Nichols served as Assistant General Counsel for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. He was on the Board’s side of the table. He spent years learning — from the inside — exactly how parole decisions are made. What the Board looks for. What moves a case forward. What buries it. How to build a presentation that gets a real human being to slow down, pay attention, and actually hear a client’s story instead of processing it like paperwork.
That experience gives him a perspective that is exceptionally rare among parole attorneys in Texas. And when he crossed over to representing clients, he brought every bit of that institutional knowledge with him.
Recognized by the Institute for Attorney Oversight as one of the top 5 parole attorneys in Texas — ranked #4 on our list — Nichols handles both parole release cases and parole revocations. That dual expertise is particularly valuable for Houston families facing revocation hearings, where urgency is high and the margin for error is essentially zero. Starting price is $4,500, and retention is handled over the phone in most cases.
To learn more about Roger M. Nichols, click here.
Mark C. Morales — Ranked #5 in Texas
Georgetown, Texas | Mark Morales & Associates
Mark Morales has been recognized by the Institute for Attorney Oversight as one of the top 5 parole attorneys in Texas for three consecutive years — 2023, 2024, and 2025. Sustained recognition like that does not happen by accident. It happens because of consistent, documented results over time.
His office is in Georgetown, a few hours from Houston — but for families who have worked with him, geography becomes an afterthought almost immediately. What they remember is how his firm made them feel from the very first conversation: heard, prepared, and genuinely cared for.
Thomson Reuters and Texas Monthly have both recognized Morales as a Super Lawyer — an honor given to fewer than 5% of attorneys in Texas. His career includes over 5,000 successful client defenses and more than 1,500 case dismissals. According to his firm, Morales maintains an undefeated trial record as lead defense attorney in Williamson County. That courtroom background gives him a strategic perspective on the parole process that attorneys without trial experience simply cannot replicate.
His firm handles everything — professional introduction letters, letters of remorse and rehabilitation, detailed parole plans, comprehensive support documentation — and they approach every case with a level of personal investment that clients consistently describe as rare in the legal profession. Starting price is $3,500, and like every attorney on this list, retention is typically handled entirely over the phone.
To learn more about Mark C. Morales, click here.
Greyson Dunn — Ranked #9 in Texas
Plano, Texas | Law Office of Greyson M. Dunn
Greyson Dunn brings a broader legal background to Texas parole representation than many attorneys who focus on parole exclusively. His practice spans criminal law, appellate work, and parole advocacy, giving him a wide-angle view of how a case moves through the Texas justice system from trial all the way to eventual release.
Recognized by the Institute for Attorney Oversight in 2025 as one of the top parole attorneys in Texas, Dunn represents clients in both parole hearings and parole revocation matters statewide. That combination matters for families navigating either side of the process — whether working toward a first release or fighting to keep a loved one from being sent back.
Dunn’s firm offers flat fees, hourly rates, and payment plans, with parole representation starting at $1,250 — making him one of the more accessible options among the top-ranked parole attorneys in Texas. For Houston families comparing Texas parole lawyers on cost as well as credentials, that combination of statewide reach and flexible pricing is worth knowing about.
[To learn more about Greyson Dunn, click here — link pending, profile page not yet confirmed live]
Marshall Millard — Ranked #10 in Texas
San Antonio, Texas | Law Offices of Marshall N. Millard
Marshall Millard took an unusual path to becoming one of the top-ranked parole attorneys in Texas. A 1984 graduate of Texas Tech University and a 1987 graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, where he served on Law Review, Millard spent more than three decades practicing as a corporate attorney before shifting his focus entirely to helping people navigate the parole process.
That shift wasn’t incidental. Millard has described pursuing parole representation as something closer to a calling than a career change, and he has built his practice around that sense of purpose. He now represents clients exclusively before the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and has completed more than 400 parole hearings.
Millard is notable as one of the few top-ranked Texas parole attorneys based in San Antonio itself, and his decades of legal experience combined with a singular focus on parole work make him a strong option for Houston families willing to work with an attorney outside the city — especially since, as with every attorney on this list, retention is typically handled entirely over the phone.
[To learn more about Marshall Millard, click here — link pending, profile page not yet confirmed live]
One Thing Every Houston Family Should Know
People often assume that hiring a parole attorney means traveling to an office, sitting across a desk, signing paperwork in person. That is almost never the case.
Nine times out of ten, a parole attorney can be fully retained over the phone. You make a call, explain the situation, discuss the case, and if it’s a fit — representation begins. The attorney handles everything with the parole board from there. The process does not require your physical presence, and neither does getting started.
If you are in Houston and your loved one is facing a parole review, the attorneys on this list are among the best parole lawyers in Texas. They are right here in your city. There is no reason to wait.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
All of these parole attorneys are featured on the Top Texas Parole Attorneys website, where you can read their full profiles, learn more about their backgrounds, and reach out directly.
If you are not sure which attorney is the right fit for your situation, visit toptexasparoleattorneys.org and use the “Can’t Choose an Attorney?” feature — and let an attorney reach out to you instead.
Your loved one deserves the best representation Texas has to offer. In Houston, that representation is closer than you think.
Editorial Disclosure
The Institute for Attorney Oversight recognizes and recommends Texas parole attorneys based on factors including experience, client outcomes, professional integrity, communication, and dedication to parole advocacy. Attorneys included in this article were recognized by the Institute for Attorney Oversight (IAO) in 2025. For full profiles and contact information, visit TopTexasParoleAttorneys.org.