"Not all offenders are going to agree with that obviously," Draper replies, before adding, "It's not us against them, it's us with them."

Draper says that no parolee is required to follow the conditions of parole. Instead it's an agreement to follow the rules in exchange for an early release from prison. Draper says many of the people AP&P supervises choose to break the agreement, then lie about their conduct when confronted.

"You take that personally," the agent says. "If they test positive for a drug, you don't take that personally. You don't take it personally if they go out and commit a new crime. But if they sit there and it's a bald-face, flat-out lie, it's hard not to internalize that and just know you can never ever trust that person."

To his knowledge, Draper says, Gardner has yet to lie to an agent while on parole.

"He doesn't try and impress us, he doesn't try and hide stuff," Draper says. "What you see is what you get. I wish more offenders would learn from him."

Gardner's parole could end in 2008. He says if that happens, it won't change the way he lives. Given his experience though, Draper won't wager on whether Gardner will make it to the end of the year without a problem.

"Right now he's making all the right choices," the agent says. "He's doing everything he can at this point to get off in that year, but it's up to the parole board."

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E-mail: geoff@ubstandard.com