During the American Civil War, a parole camp was a place where Union soldiers on parole could be kept by their own side, in a non-combat role. They could be restored to a combat role if some prisoners of war were traded to the other side. This would enable them to be returned to a combat role as an exchange for the newly freed prisoners of war. Conditions in the camps were unplasant; the parolees refused to do guard duty or routine work, claiming that would violate their parole. Many escaped to go home.