[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 3, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9516-9521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4270]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Parole Commission

28 CFR Part 2


Paroling, Recommitting, and Supervising Federal Prisoners: 
Prisoners Serving Sentences Under the United States and District of 
Columbia Codes

AGENCY: United States Parole Commission, Justice.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Parole Commission is promulgating final rules to 
implement the District of Columbia Equitable Street Time Credit 
Amendment Act of 2008. This Act modifies parole laws for District of 
Columbia offenders by allowing the Parole Commission to terminate the 
supervision and legal custody of a parolee before the expiration of the 
parolee's sentence. The Act also modifies the requirement that a 
parolee lose credit for all time spent

[[Page 9517]]

on parole when the Commission revokes the parolee's release for 
violating parole conditions. With these modifications, parole laws for 
DC offenders are more consistent with similar parole laws governing 
U.S. Code parole-eligible offenders. The Commission is also making a 
number of conforming amendments to regulations for both DC and U.S. 
Code offenders.

DATES: Effective date: April 12, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rockne Chickinell, Office of General 
Counsel, U.S. Parole Commission, 5550 Friendship Blvd., Chevy Chase, 
Maryland 20815, telephone (301) 492-5959. Questions about this 
publication are welcome, but inquiries concerning individual cases 
cannot be answered over the telephone.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Legislation and Interim Rules

    The Parole Commission described the provisions of the Equitable 
Street Time Credit Amendment Act of 2008, DC Law 17-389 (hereinafter 
``the Act'') in its June 17, 2009 publication of interim rules 
implementing the Act. 74 FR 28602-06. When it became effective May 20, 
2009, the Act made two significant changes in parole laws for DC 
offenders. First, Section 3(a) of the Act amended DC Code 24-404 to 
provide that the Commission may terminate a DC parolee from 
supervision, and legal custody of the parolee, before the expiration 
date of the sentence. Before this change, the Commission could only 
transfer a parolee to inactive supervision for good behavior on parole. 
Second, Section 3(b) of the Act amended DC Code 24-406 to limit the 
forfeiture of parole time to those revoked parolees who have incurred a 
new conviction for an offense punishable by imprisonment, or who have 
intentionally refused or failed to respond to a request or order of the 
Commission. The legislation provided for mandatory forfeiture of the 
parole period if the parolee is convicted of a crime punishable by a 
prison term of more than one year. If the new conviction carries a 
possible jail term of one year or less, the Commission has discretion 
to allow sentence credit if the Commission decides that forfeiture is 
not necessary to protect the public welfare. This change in forfeiture 
law brings DC parole laws more in line with the forfeiture provisions 
for federal parolees found at 18 U.S.C. 4210(b) and (c), which require 
parole time forfeiture for a revoked parolee who is convicted of a 
crime punishable by imprisonment, and permit forfeiture of a period 
while the parolee absconded from supervision or willfully disobeyed a 
Commission direction.
    The Commission's interim rules for the procedures governing early 
termination from supervision for DC parolees are almost identical to 
the rules governing early termination decisions for federal parolees. 
The interim rules for street time forfeiture largely follow the 
statutory language. The final rules are virtually identical to the 
interim rules, with several changes resulting from the public comment 
submitted in response to the interim rules. These comments and the 
Commission's responses are summarized below. The Commission is also 
amending the rules at 28 CFR 2.43 (for federal parolees) and Sec.  
2.208 (for DC supervised releasees) to conform with the final rules on 
DC parolees.

Public Comment on Interim Rules Regarding Early Termination From 
Supervision

    The Commission received public comment on the interim rules from 
the District of Columbia Public Defender Service (``PDS'') and the 
Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs 
(``WLC''). First, PDS asked that the Commission amend 28 CFR Sec.  
2.95(c) to specify the procedures that apply to a five-year hearing on 
early termination from supervision. Unlike the federal statute for 
early termination hearings at 18 U.S.C. 4211(c), the new DC law does 
not specify these procedures. In conducting early termination hearings 
for DC offenders, the Commission has always intended to use the same 
procedures that apply to federal early termination hearings. The 
Commission is amending the interim rule at Sec.  2.95(c) to add a 
cross-reference to 18 U.S.C. 4214(a)(2) (the statute describing 
procedures that apply to federal revocation and early termination 
hearings). The rule at Sec.  2.43(c) for federal parolees is similarly 
amended.
    Second, PDS suggested that the Commission require notice to 
parolees and supervised releasees of early termination denials and 
reasons for the termination denials. Among other reasons, PDS contended 
that these requirements would safeguard the offender's liberty interest 
in early termination from supervision, and equip the offender with the 
tools needed to achieve early termination at the next review. Under its 
practice for federal parolees, the Commission sends a notice of the 
early termination decision when the Commission: (1) Grants early 
termination from supervision; (2) denies early termination at the five-
year mark or thereafter; and (3) denies early termination in 
disagreement with the supervision officer's recommendation in favor of 
early termination. Notice of the decision is not required by 18 U.S.C. 
4211, or the Commission's rule at 28 CFR 2.43. The Commission disagrees 
with the contention that a parolee, whether serving a federal or DC 
Code sentence, has a liberty interest in early termination of parole 
that is protected by the Due Process Clause. (Under case precedent, a 
DC Code prisoner does not have a liberty interest in parole release.) 
Finally, in cases where the offender may benefit from some direction on 
improvement, it is likely that the offender is already on notice from 
the supervision officer of deficient behavior that requires correction.
    Third, PDS recommended that the rules be modified to state that 
after five years on supervision, there is a presumption that the 
parolee must be terminated from supervision unless the Commission finds 
that the parolee is a risk to the public safety. The rules fully 
implement the directives of federal and DC statutes. The related 
request for a new rule requiring the parolee's termination from 
supervision if a hearing is not held within sixty days of the five-year 
mark is contrary to established case precedent from the federal 
circuits.
    Finally, PDS recommended amending the early termination guidelines 
and expanding the examples of case-specific factors for departing from 
the guidelines. In particular, PDS objects to the use of the salient 
factor score in making early termination decisions. The Commission 
continues to explore the use of an alternative risk prediction device 
for reparole decisions for DC offenders. Until this investigation 
results in proposed rulemaking, the Commission will continue to use the 
early termination guidelines.
    WLC asked the Commission for more formal procedures in conducting 
case reviews before the five-year point of the parolee's supervision 
term. WLC also recommended that the Commission enhance the statutory 
presumption for termination from supervision at the five-year mark by 
adopting a policy that a parolee must be released from further 
supervision at that point if he had not been convicted of a new crime 
or had his parole revoked. Finally, WLC echoed the comments of PDS on 
the Commission's use of the salient factor score.
    WLC's recommendations concerning the case review process for early 
termination decisions are again founded upon the supposition that the 
parolee has a constitutionally-protected liberty interest in being 
discharged early from parole supervision. As noted earlier, a

[[Page 9518]]

parolee does not possess such a liberty interest. There does not appear 
to be a compelling need for the Commission to adopt more complex 
procedures or more restrictive evidentiary standards for early 
termination decisions. If the Commission chose to establish more 
complex procedures for this function, it would likely have to add more 
personnel to accommodate the increased workload.
    In reviewing the interim rules, the Commission discovered a mistake 
in the rule governing appeals for early termination denials for federal 
parolees (28 CFR 2.43(e)). When the Commission promulgated the interim 
rule, it mistakenly referred to adverse decisions under paragraph (b) 
of revised Sec.  2.43, rather than paragraph (c), as subject to appeal. 
Paragraph (b) covers adverse decisions before the parolee has served 
five years on supervision, while paragraph (c) covers adverse decisions 
at the five-year mark and thereafter. The statute establishing an 
administrative appeal remedy for federal parole-eligible offenders only 
specifies an administrative appeal for offenders who are denied early 
termination from supervision ``under section 4211(c) [of Title 18, 
U.S.C.],'' the provision for early termination of parole supervision 
after service of five years on parole. The Commission has never 
extended an administrative appeal for early termination denials to 
parolees before the five-year mark (see 28 CFR Sec.  2.43(c)(3) 
(2008)), and did not intend to do so in its interim rule. The final 
rule corrects this mistake and provides that only federal parolees who 
have been denied early termination of parole after serving five years 
on supervision have the opportunity to appeal the denial to the 
Commission.

Public Comment on Interim Rules Regarding Forfeiture of Time Spent on 
Parole

    Regarding the rules governing forfeiture of street time for parole 
violators, PDS suggested that the Commission amend 28 CFR 2.105(d) to 
provide that all street time can be forfeited only when the parolee has 
been convicted of: (1) A crime punishable by more than one year of 
imprisonment; or (2) a crime punishable by a maximum prison term of one 
year and the Commission finds the parolee is a risk to the public 
safety. PDS contended that this change would bring the rule in line 
with the new law at DC Code 24-406(c)(2). However, the Commission's 
rule already directs that the Commission must forfeit street time for a 
parolee convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in 
prison. 28 CFR 2.105(d)(2)(A). Regarding a parolee convicted of a crime 
punishable by a lesser term of incarceration, the wording of Sec.  
2.105(d)(2)(B) is more consistent with the new law than the proposed 
wording sought by PDS. The statute directs the Commission to forfeit 
street time for a parolee convicted of a new offense punishable by 
``one year or less'' of imprisonment. DC Code 24-406(c)(2)(B). 
Therefore, a parolee convicted of a crime punishable by a maximum jail 
term of less than one year (e.g., 90 days or 6 months, common statutory 
penalties for misdemeanors) is subject to street time forfeiture under 
the statute. Finally, the new statute does not require that, before 
taking away a misdemeanant's street time, the Commission must find that 
the street time forfeiture is necessary to protect the public safety. 
Instead, DC Code 24-406(c)(2)(B) directs the Commission to forfeit the 
street time for the misdemeanant ``unless the Commission determines 
that such forfeiture of credit is not necessary to protect the public 
welfare.'' Therefore, the misdemeanant avoids the street time 
forfeiture only if the Commission finds that forfeiture is not needed 
to protect the public. If the Commission refrains from making the 
finding, the statutory command controls and requires the forfeiture.
    PDS recommended that the Commission add other examples to the list 
of information the Commission considers in making a determination that 
street time forfeiture is not warranted for a parolee convicted of a 
new misdemeanor. Several examples proposed by PDS are incorporated in 
the final rule. The Commission decided to forego promulgating 
guidelines for evaluating whether street time forfeiture is not 
necessary to protect the public welfare, and instead continue to make 
these decisions on a case-by-case basis.
    PDS also recommended that 28 CFR 2.105(d)(3) provide that ``[t]he 
parolee shall receive credit for the remainder of the time on parole'' 
if the Commission partially forfeits street time for the parolee who 
loses contact with the supervision officer or violates an order. This 
recommended amendment is unnecessary because Sec.  2.105(d) begins with 
the instruction ``[e]xcept as otherwise provided in paragraphs (d)(2) 
and (d)(3), the Commission shall grant a revoked parolee credit toward 
completion of the sentence for all time served on parole.'' In 
addition, paragraph (d)(3) clearly states that the forfeiture allowed 
under that paragraph is ``for the period of time that the Commission 
determines that the parolee failed or refused to respond to such a 
request, order, summons, or warrant.''
    WLC feared that through the interim rules Commission sought to 
expand its authority to forfeit street time for a parolee who had 
committed only administrative violations. This fear is groundless. WLC 
suggested that the Commission specify those misdemeanor crimes that 
shall lead to street time forfeiture. This suggestion shares the same 
underlying flaw as found in the comments of PDS, i.e., that the new law 
requires that the Commission must find that the parolee presents a 
danger to the public safety before it can forfeit street time for a new 
misdemeanor conviction.
    WLC also recommended that the Commission provide notice to the 
parolee of those ``reasonable requests or orders'' that may result in 
street time forfeiture under Sec.  2.105(d)(3) if the parolee refuses 
to obey the request or order. Neither due process nor the terms of the 
new law require the notice suggested by WLC. Given the variety of 
situations that could lead to a partial street time forfeiture under 
paragraph (d)(3), and the infrequency of street time forfeitures 
outside the absconder situation, the Commission sees no reason to 
undertake the difficult task of preparing a rule or other notice that 
seeks to give a parolee warning of requests or orders that may lead to 
the forfeiture of street time if the parolee disobeys the request or 
order.

Implementation

    The regulations set forth below will be made effective on April 12, 
2010. The Commission earlier implemented the Act's provisions with the 
interim rules made effective June 17, 2009. The Act does not disturb 
the street time forfeiture decisions for DC offenders issued by the 
Commission before May 20, 2009 (the effective date of the Act), and it 
allows the Commission a period of one year to implement the provisions 
on early termination of supervision for those DC parolees who were 
released before the Act's effective date.

Executive Order 12866

    The U.S. Parole Commission has determined that these final rules do 
not constitute significant rules within the meaning of Executive Order 
12866.

Executive Order 13132

    These regulations will not have substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Under Executive Order 13132, these rules 
do not have

[[Page 9519]]

sufficient federalism implications requiring a Federalism Assessment.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The final rules will not have a significant economic impact upon a 
substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 605(b).

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    The rules will not cause State, local, or tribal governments, or 
the private sector, to spend $100,000,000 or more in any one year, and 
it will not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. No 
action under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 is necessary.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Subtitle 
E--Congressional Review Act)

    These rules are not ``major rules'' as defined by Section 804 of 
the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 Subtitle 
E--Congressional Review Act), now codified at 5 U.S.C. 804(2). The 
rules will not result in an annual effect on the economy of 
$100,000,000 or more; a major increase in costs or prices; or 
significant adverse effects on the ability of United States-based 
companies to compete with foreign-based companies. Moreover, these are 
rules of agency practice or procedure that do not substantially affect 
the rights or obligations of non-agency parties, and do not come within 
the meaning of the term ``rule'' as used in Section 804(3)(C), now 
codified at 5 U.S.C. 804(3)(C). Therefore, the reporting requirement of 
5 U.S.C. 801 does not apply.

List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 2

    Administrative practice and procedure, Prisoners, Probation and 
Parole.

The Final Rule

0
Accordingly, the U. S. Parole Commission is adopting the following 
amendments to 28 CFR Part 2.

PART 2--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for 28 CFR Part 2 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  18 U.S.C. 4203(a)(1) and 4204(a)(6).


0
2. Section 2.43 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  2.43   Early termination.

    (a)(1) Upon its own motion or upon request of a parolee, the 
Commission may terminate a parolee's supervision, and legal custody 
over the parolee, before the sentence expires.
    (2) The Commission may terminate supervision of a committed youth 
offender after the offender serves one year on supervision. Upon 
terminating supervision before the sentence expires, the Commission 
shall set aside the committed youth offender's conviction and issue a 
certificate setting aside the conviction instead of a certificate of 
termination.
    (b) Two years after releasing a prisoner on supervision, and at 
least annually thereafter, the Commission shall review the status of 
the parolee to determine the need for continued supervision. The 
Commission shall also conduct a status review whenever the supervision 
officer recommends early termination of the parolee's supervision.
    (c) Five years after releasing a prisoner on supervision, the 
Commission shall terminate supervision over the parolee unless the 
Commission determines, after a hearing conducted in accordance with the 
procedures prescribed in 18 U.S.C. 4214(a)(2), that such supervision 
should not be terminated because there is a likelihood that the parolee 
will engage in conduct violating any criminal law. If the Commission 
does not terminate supervision under this paragraph, the parolee may 
request a hearing annually thereafter, and the Commission shall conduct 
an early termination hearing at least every two years.
    (d) In calculating the two-year and five-year periods provided in 
paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the Commission shall not 
include any period of parole before the most recent release, or any 
period served in confinement on any other sentence.
    (e) A parolee may appeal an adverse decision under paragraph (c) of 
this section under Sec.  2.26 or Sec.  2.27 as applicable.
    (f) If the case is designated for the original jurisdiction of the 
Commission, a decision to terminate supervision under paragraphs (a)(2) 
and (b) of this section, or a decision to terminate or continue 
supervision under paragraph (c) of this section shall be made under the 
provisions of Sec.  2.17.
    (g)(1) In determining whether to grant early termination from 
supervision, the Commission shall consider the guidelines of this 
paragraph. The guidelines are advisory and the Commission may disregard 
the outcome indicated by the guidelines based on case-specific factors. 
Termination of supervision is indicated if the parolee:
    (i) Has a salient factor score in the very good risk category and 
has completed two continuous years of supervision free from an incident 
of new criminal behavior or serious parole violation; or
    (ii) Has a salient factor score in a risk category other than very 
good and has completed three continuous years of supervision free from 
an incident of new criminal behavior or serious parole violation.
    (2) As used in this paragraph (g), the term ``an incident of new 
criminal behavior or serious parole violation'' includes a new arrest 
or report of a parole violation if supported by substantial evidence of 
guilt, even if no conviction or parole revocation results. The 
Commission shall not terminate supervision of a parolee until it 
determines the disposition of a pending criminal charge.
    (h) Case-specific factors that may justify a departure either above 
or below the early termination guidelines may relate to the current 
behavior of the parolee, or to the parolee's background and criminal 
history.

0
3. Section 2.65 is amended by revising paragraph (i) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  2.65   Paroling policy for prisoners serving aggregate U.S. and 
DC Code sentences.

* * * * *
    (i) Forfeiture of parole time. All time on parole shall be 
forfeited if required under Sec.  2.52(c) and Sec.  2.105(d) of this 
part. If not, the Commission shall divide the total time on parole 
according to the proportional relationship of the DC sentence to the 
U.S. sentence, and shall order the forfeiture of the portion 
corresponding to the DC sentence pursuant to Sec.  2.105(d). For 
example, if the parolee is serving a two-year DC Code sentence and a 
three-year U.S. Code sentence, the DC sentence is two fifths, or 40 
percent, of the aggregate sentence (five years). If the parolee was on 
parole 100 days and parole is revoked for a misdemeanor conviction, a 
period of 40 days is subject to possible forfeiture under Sec.  
2.105(d).

0
4. Section 2.74 is amended by revising the third sentence of paragraph 
(c) to read as follows:


Sec.  2.74   Decision of the Commission.

* * * * *
    (c) * * * A decision terminating a parolee early from supervision 
shall also be based on the concurrence of two Commissioners. * * *

0
5. Section 2.92 is amended by revising paragraphs (a), (c), and (d) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  2.92   Jurisdiction of the Commission.

    (a) The jurisdiction of the Commission over a parolee shall expire

[[Page 9520]]

on the date of expiration of the maximum term or terms for which he was 
sentenced, or upon the early termination of supervision as provided in 
Sec.  2.95, subject to the provisions of this subpart relating to 
warrant issuance, time in absconder status, and the forfeiture of time 
on parole in the case of revocation.
* * * * *
    (c) When the parolee's sentence expires, the supervision officer 
shall issue a certificate of discharge to the parolee and to such other 
agencies as may be appropriate. If the Commission terminates the 
parolee's supervision early under Sec.  2.95, the Commission shall 
issue a certificate of discharge for delivery to the parolee by the 
supervision officer.
    (d) An order of revocation shall not affect the Commission's 
jurisdiction to grant and enforce any further periods of parole, up to 
the date of expiration of the offender's maximum term, or upon the 
early termination of supervision under Sec.  2.95.

0
6. Section 2.95 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  2.95   Early termination from supervision.

    (a)(1) Upon its own motion or upon request of a parolee, the 
Commission may terminate a parolee's supervision, and legal custody 
over the parolee, before the sentence expires.
    (2) The Commission may terminate supervision of a committed youth 
offender after the offender serves one year on supervision. Upon 
terminating supervision before the sentence expires, the Commission 
shall set aside the committed youth offender's conviction and issue a 
certificate setting aside the conviction instead of a certificate of 
termination.
    (b) Two years after releasing a prisoner on supervision, and at 
least annually thereafter, the Commission shall review the status of 
the parolee to determine the need for continued supervision. The 
Commission shall also conduct a status review whenever the supervision 
officer recommends early termination of the parolee's supervision.
    (c) Five years after releasing a prisoner on supervision, the 
Commission shall terminate supervision over the parolee unless the 
Commission determines, after a hearing conducted in accordance with the 
procedures prescribed in 18 U.S.C. 4214(a)(2), that such supervision 
should not be terminated because there is a likelihood that the parolee 
will engage in conduct violating any criminal law. If the Commission 
does not terminate supervision under this paragraph, the parolee may 
request a hearing annually thereafter, and the Commission shall conduct 
an early termination hearing at least every two years.
    (d) In calculating the two-year and five-year periods provided in 
paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the Commission shall not 
include any period of parole before the most recent release, or any 
period the parolee served in confinement on any other sentence.
    (e)(1) In determining whether to grant early termination from 
supervision, the Commission shall consider the guidelines of this 
paragraph (e). The guidelines are advisory and the Commission may 
disregard the outcome indicated by the guidelines based on case-
specific factors. Termination of supervision is indicated if the 
parolee:
    (i) Has a salient factor score in the very good risk category and 
has completed two continuous years of supervision free from an incident 
of new criminal behavior or serious parole violation; or
    (ii) Has a salient factor score in a risk category other than very 
good and has completed three continuous years of supervision free from 
an incident of new criminal behavior or serious parole violation.
    (2) As used in this paragraph (e), the term ``an incident of new 
criminal behavior or serious parole violation'' includes a new arrest 
or report of a parole violation if supported by substantial evidence of 
guilt, even if no conviction or parole revocation results. The 
Commission shall not terminate supervision of a parolee until it 
determines the disposition of a pending criminal charge.
    (3) Case-specific factors that may justify a departure either above 
or below the early termination guidelines may relate to the current 
behavior of the parolee, or to the parolee's background and criminal 
history.

0
7. Section 2.96 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  2.96   Order of early termination.

    When the Commission orders early termination from supervision, the 
Commission shall issue a certificate to the parolee granting a full 
discharge from the sentence. The termination and discharge shall take 
effect only upon the actual delivery of the certificate of discharge to 
the parolee by the supervision officer, and may be rescinded for good 
cause at any time before such delivery.

0
8. Section 2.97 is amended by revising the introductory text to read as 
follows:


Sec.  2.97   Withdrawal of order of release.

    If, after an order for release from active supervision under former 
Sec.  2.95 has been issued by the Commission, and prior to the 
expiration date of the sentence(s) being served, the parolee commits 
any new criminal offense or engages in any conduct that might bring 
discredit to the parole system, the Commission may, in its discretion, 
do any of the following:
* * * * *

0
9. Section 2.98 is amended in paragraph (e) by removing ``DC Code 24-
406(a)'' and adding in its place ``DC Code 24-406(c).''

0
10. Section 2.100 is amended in paragraph (d)(2) by removing ``DC Code 
24-406(a)'' and adding in its place ``DC Code 24-406(c).''

0
11. Section Sec.  2.105 is amended by revising paragraphs (b), (d), and 
(e) to read as follows:


Sec.  2.105   Revocation decisions.

* * * * *
    (b) If parole is revoked under this section, the Commission shall 
determine whether immediate reparole is warranted or whether the 
parolee should be returned to prison. If the parolee is returned to 
prison, the Commission shall also determine whether to set a 
presumptive release date pursuant to Sec.  2.81.
* * * * *
    (d)(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (d)(2) and (d)(3) of this 
section, the Commission shall grant a revoked parolee credit toward 
completion of the sentence for all time served on parole.
    (2)(i) The Commission shall forfeit credit for the period of parole 
if a parolee is convicted of a crime committed during a period of 
parole and that is punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than 
one year.
    (ii) If the crime is punishable by any other term of imprisonment, 
the Commission shall forfeit credit for the period of parole unless the 
Commission determines that such forfeiture is not necessary to protect 
the public welfare. In making this decision, the Commission shall 
consider the nature and circumstances of the violation behavior, the 
history and characteristics of the offender, including the offender's 
supervision history, family support and stability, employment record, 
participation in applicable treatment programs, and other available and 
relevant information.
    (3) If, during the period of parole, a parolee intentionally 
refuses or fails to respond to any reasonable request, order, summons, 
or warrant of the

[[Page 9521]]

Commission or any member or agent of the Commission, the Commission may 
order that the parolee not receive credit for the period of time that 
the Commission determines that the parolee failed or refused to respond 
to such a request, order, summons, or warrant.
    (4) The provisions of this paragraph (e) shall apply only to any 
period of parole that is being served on or after May 20, 2009, and 
shall not apply to any period of parole that was revoked before that 
date.
    (e) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, 
prisoners committed under the Federal Youth Corrections Act shall not 
be subject to forfeiture of time on parole, but shall serve 
uninterrupted sentences from the date of conviction except as provided 
in Sec.  2.10(b) and (c). DC Code 24-406(c) and paragraphs (a) through 
(d) of this section are fully applicable to prisoners serving sentences 
under the DC Youth Rehabilitation Act.
* * * * *

0
12. Section Sec.  2.208 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  2.208   Termination of a term of supervised release.

    (a)(1) The Commission may terminate a term of supervised release 
and discharge the releasee from supervision after the expiration of one 
year of supervised release, if the Commission is satisfied that such 
action is warranted by the conduct of the releasee and the interest of 
justice.
    (2) Upon terminating supervision of a committed youth offender 
before the sentence expires, the Commission shall set aside the 
committed youth offender's conviction and issue a certificate setting 
aside the conviction instead of a certificate of discharge.
    (b) Two years after a prisoner is released on supervision, and at 
least annually thereafter, the Commission shall review the status of 
the releasee to determine the need for continued supervision. The 
Commission shall also conduct a status review whenever the supervision 
officer recommends termination of the supervised release term. If the 
term of supervised release imposed by the court is two years or less, 
the Commission shall consider termination of supervision only if 
recommended by the releasee's supervision officer.
    (c) In calculating the two-year period provided in paragraph (b) of 
this section, the Commission shall not include any period of release 
before the most recent release, or any period served in confinement on 
any other sentence.
    (d)(1) In deciding whether to terminate supervised release, the 
Commission shall consider the guidelines of this paragraph (d). The 
guidelines are advisory and the Commission may disregard the outcome 
indicated by the guidelines based on case-specific factors. Termination 
of supervision is indicated if the releasee:
    (i) Has a salient factor score in the very good risk category and 
has completed two continuous years of supervision free from an incident 
of new criminal behavior or serious release violation; or
    (ii) Has a salient factor score in a risk category other than very 
good and has completed three continuous years of supervision free from 
an incident of new criminal behavior or serious release violation.
    (2) As used in this paragraph (d), the term ``an incident of new 
criminal behavior or serious release violation'' includes a new arrest 
or report of a release violation if supported by substantial evidence 
of guilt, even if no conviction or release revocation results. The 
Commission shall not terminate supervision of a releasee until it 
determines the disposition of a pending criminal charge.
    (3) Case-specific factors that may justify a departure either above 
or below the early termination guidelines may relate to the current 
behavior of the releasee, or to the releasee's background and criminal 
history.

    Dated: February 24, 2010.
Isaac Fulwood,
Chairman, U.S. Parole Commission.
[FR Doc. 2010-4270 Filed 3-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-31-P