Opinion ID: 1532443
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Original Statutory Sentencing System

Text: The sentencing provisions of the Delaware criminal justice system appear in several different statutes, many of which were originally enacted separately and then amended on numerous occasions over the last few decades. Courts must read all of those statutes, as amended, in pari materia to interpret and give effect to the statutory sentencing scheme in operation at any given point in time. In 1964, the General Assembly enacted sections 4346 and 4348 of Title 11. Section 4346 is entitled Eligibility for Parole. Subsection (a) provides: A person confined to any correctional facility administered by the Department may be released on parole by the Board if the person has served 1/3 of the term imposed by the court, such term to be reduced by such merit and good behavior credits as have been earned, or 120 days, whichever is greater. [82] Subsection (c) also provides, in part: For all purposes of this section, a person sentenced to imprisonment for life shall be considered as having been sentenced to a fixed term of 45 years. Section 4348 of Title 11, which is entitled Release Upon Merit and Good Behavior Credits provides, in pertinent part: A person having served that person's term or terms in incarceration, less merit and good behavior credits as having been earned, shall, upon release, be deemed as released on parole until the expiration of the maximum term or term for which the person is sentenced. This Court has recognized that, insofar as the terms and conditions of non-custodial status are concerned, there is little practical difference between release on parole under section 4346 and conditional release under section 4348. [83] Prior to 1990, an eligible inmate could obtain early release in two ways: from the Parole Board under section 4346(a) or by conditional release pursuant to section 4348. [84] Release of an inmate on parole under section 4346 is a matter of discretion for the Parole Board. Conditional release under section 4348, however, is non-discretionary. If an inmate who is eligible for conditional release has accumulated sufficient good behavior and merit credits, he or she must be released from incarceration on his or her short-term release date, i.e., the maximum period of incarceration less accumulated good behavior and merit credits. [85]