Opinion ID: 1759329
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Parole eligibility was anticipatorily waived by contract.

Text: This point is a basic tenet of contract law. Contracts can establish duties and rights to be performed and received in the future. Such obligations can be in the form of an act to be performed in the future, refraining from performing a future act, or the surrender of a known right. As discussed supra, the waiver of the right to make an application for parole was the primary consideration given by Lanier in exchange for the State's promise not to pursue the death penalty. These rights or privileges were explicitly stated in paragraphs three, four, six, and seven of the WAIVER OF PAROLE RIGHTS as rights of which Lanier was aware and with which he wished to bargain. Lanier surrendered a known right to perform an act in the future which was provided to him by statute  the right to apply for parole. A fortiori, parole eligibility was effectively waived since parole will not be considered without an application from the offender. MISS. CODE ANN. § 47-7-17 (1972), as amended.