Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/529bv.pdf
Page Number: 327.0

529US1

Unit: $U40

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252

GARNER v. JONES

Opinion of the Court

factors which convinced us the amendment to California law
created an insigniﬁcant risk of increased punishment for cov-
ered inmates. Our opinion was careful, however, not to
adopt a single formula for identifying which legislative ad-
justments, in matters bearing on parole, would survive an
ex post facto challenge.
Ibid. We also observed that the
Ex Post Facto Clause should not be employed for “the micro-
management of an endless array of legislative adjustments
Id., at 508. These
to parole and sentencing procedures.”
remain important concerns. The States must have due
ﬂexibility in formulating parole procedures and addressing
problems associated with conﬁnement and release.

The case turns on the operation of the amendment to Rule
475–3–.05(2) within the whole context of Georgia’s parole
system. Georgia law charges the Parole Board with deter-
mining which prisoners “may be released on pardon or parole
and [with] ﬁxing the time and conditions thereof.” Ga. Code
Ann. § 42–9–20 (1997).
In making release decisions, the
same law, in relevant part, provides:

“Good conduct, achievement of a ﬁfth-grade level or
higher on standardized reading tests, and efﬁcient per-
formance of duties by an inmate shall be considered by
the board in his favor and shall merit consideration of
an application for pardon or parole. No inmate shall be
placed on parole until and unless the board shall ﬁnd
that there is reasonable probability that, if he is so re-
leased, he will live and conduct himself as a respectable
and law-abiding person and that his release will be com-
patible with his own welfare and the welfare of society.
Furthermore, no person shall be released on pardon or
placed on parole unless and until the board is satisﬁed
that he will be suitably employed in self-sustaining em-
ployment or that he will not become a public charge.”
§ 42–9–42(c).