Opinion ID: 22004
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether the BOP Abused Its Discretion to Declare Him Ineligible for Early Release

Text: 16 Warren also argues that section 3621(e)(2)(B) mandates that he receive early release, or at least consideration for early release. Warren's argument takes two forms. First, relying on Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837 (1984), Warren contends that the BOP abused its discretion under section 3621 by categorically denying him early release consideration after he completed the DAP program. Next, Warren argues that the BOP abused its discretion by relying on a sentence enhancement to determine that he had committed a crime of violence and thus was ineligible for early release consideration. Both of Warren's arguments are controlled by prior decisions of this court. 17 Chevron requires review of administrative regulations at two levels. First, we examine congressional intent. If congressional intent is not clear, we determine whether the agency's action is a permissible construction of the statute. Chevron, 467 U.S. at 842-43. In Wottlin, this court reviewed the BOP's interpretation of section 3621(e)(2)(B) under the Chevron standard, finding that Congress intended to leave sentence reduction to the BOP's discretion and that the BOP could reasonably exclude whole categories of inmates from consideration. See Wottlin, 136 F.3d at 1035. Also, we have expressly recognized that section 3621(e)(2)(B) grants the BOP broad discretion to exclude from early release consideration prisoners serving sentences for drug conspiracy that were enhanced for possession of a dangerous weapon during the course of the conspiracy. See Venegas, 126 F.3d at 765 (exclusion of a prisoner from early release consideration because of a sentence enhancement for possession of a weapon [w]as consistent with the letter and spirit of [BOP]'s authority as derived from section 3621(e)). The combinationof Venegas and Wottlin forecloses Warren's arguments regarding the BOP's discretionary power to deny him consideration for early release under section 3621(e). 4