Case Name: Irving Schwartzberg, Appellant, v. Russell G. Oswald et al. Constituting the Board of Parole of the State of New York, Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1959-03-11
Citations: 8 A.D.2d 570
Docket Number: 
Parties: Irving Schwartzberg, Appellant, v. Russell G. Oswald et al. Constituting the Board of Parole of the State of New York, Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 8
Pages: 570–570

Head Matter:
Irving Schwartzberg, Appellant, v. Russell G. Oswald et al. Constituting the Board of Parole of the State of New York, Respondents.

Opinion:
Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court at Special Term in a proceeding under article 78 of the Civil Practice Act which denied petitioner's application for an order to compel the Board of Parole to set a date for a new hearing for petitioner and to allow his attorney to be present thereat. There is no statutory or constitutional right for a prisoner to be represented 'by counsel at a hearing before the Board of Parole. This board is given broad, discretionary powers to release prisoners before the expiration of their maximum terms by article 8 of the Correction Law. It is empowered to act upon its own motion. Section 214 of the Correction Law provides that a prisoner does not have the right to initiate proceedings for parole or to make application for parole. Even when a prisoner becomes a parole violator (which petitioner is not), section 218 provides that he may be called before the Parole Board for a hearing and shall be given " an opportunity to appear personally, but not through counsel or others, before such board of parole and explain the charges made against him." Order unanimously affirmed, without costs. Present — Foster, P. J., Bergan, Coon, Herlihy and Reynolds, JJ.