NCJ Number
14251
Date Published
1974
Length
20 pages
Annotation
REPORT OF A PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF PAROLE DECISIONS BY ESTABLISHING AN INTERNAL ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCEDURE.
Abstract
THE UNITED STATES BOARD OF PAROLE INITIATED A PILOT REGIONALIZATION PROJECT IN OCTOBER 1972, IN AN ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE PAROLING PROCEDURES AND TO ANSWER SOME OF THE CRITICISMS DIRECTED AT ITS OPERATIONS. INVOLVING FIVE FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, THIS PROJECT CONTAINED A NUMBER OF INNOVATIVE FEATURES, INCLUDING LIMITED REPRESENTATION AT PAROLE HEARINGS, WRITTEN REASONS FOR PAROLE DENIAL, AND A TWO-STEP ADMINISTRATIVE PAROLE APPEAL PROCESS. THE FIRST LEVEL OF APPEAL INVOLVED REVIEW BY A REGIONAL DIRECTOR WHO COULD AFFIRM OR MODIFY A DECISION, SCHEDULE A NEW HEARING, SCHEDULE A REGIONAL LEVEL HEARING, OR EVENTUALLY REVERSE THE DECISION. THE SECOND LEVEL CONSISTED OF APPEAL TO A NATIONAL APPELLATE BOARD AFTER AN ADVERSE DECISION BY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR. EXAMPLES OF ACTUAL LEVEL I APPEAL DECISIONS ARE GIVEN, AND RESULTS OF THE TOTAL NUMBERS OF CASES APPEALED BY THIS PROCEDURE ARE PROVIDED. MODIFIED APPELLATE REVIEW PROVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)