Ticket-of-Leave

a permit given a convict. The term came into use in England during the existence of the policy of banishing criminals to Tasmania and other penal colonies. When a convict had commended himself to the authorities, he was given a permit or ticket-of-leave to absent himself, possibly to return home, on condition that he report regularly to the police authorities, giving evidence of continued good behavior. The term ticket-of-leave man has been applied more loosely to any ex-convict.