Opinion ID: 612705
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The presumption of mandatory parole

Text: If, after serving 30 years of a life sentence, the inmate has still not been released on parole, the Parole Act entitles an inmate to mandatory parole [3] unless the Parole Commission makes specific findings to overcome the statutory presumption of release. 18 U.S.C. § 4206(d). The mandatory parole provision provides more liberal criteria for release on parole for prisoners with long sentences after they have completed two-thirds of any sentence or thirty years, whichever occurs first. S.Rep. No. 94-648, at 27. Specifically, the Parole Act provides: Any prisoner ... who is not earlier released... shall be released on parole after having served two-thirds of each consecutive term or terms, or after having served thirty years of each consecutive term or terms of more than forty-five years including any life term, whichever is earlier: Provided, however, That the Commission shall not release such prisoner if it determines that he has seriously or frequently violated institution rules and regulations or that there is a reasonable probability that he will commit any Federal, State, or local crime. 18 U.S.C. § 4206(d). Bowers' petition is based primarily on the Parole Commission's actions surrounding his mandatory parole proceedings. The Parole Act grants the Parole Commission the power, pursuant to the procedures set out in this chapter, to grant or deny an application or recommendation to parole any eligible prisoner. 18 U.S.C. § 4203(b)(1). The Parole Commissioners do not conduct the initial parole hearings, including the initial mandatory parole hearing. Rather, the Parole Commissioners delegated this function to Hearing Examiners or a panel of Hearing Examiners pursuant to § 4203(c) of the Parole Act. 28 C.F.R. § 2.23(a). Typically, a single Hearing Examiner conducts the hearing and makes a recommendation, which is then reviewed by a second examiner, and a third, if necessary. See 28 C.F.R. §§ 2.13, 2.23. The concurrence of two Hearing Examiners is required to obtain a panel recommendation. 28 C.F.R. § 2.23. After the concurrence of two examiners, the Hearing Panel's recommendation goes to a single Regional Commissioner for review. See 28 C.F.R. §§ 2.23, 2.24. When presented with the recommendation of the Hearing Panel, the Regional Commissioner has three options. Under the first option, which is utilized in most cases, the Regional Commissioner concurs with the Hearing Panel, and the recommendation then becomes an effective Parole Commission decision. See 28 C.F.R. §§ 2.23(d), 2.24(a). The prisoner or Attorney General may, within 30 days, appeal this decision of a [R]egional [C]ommissioner to the Parole Commission's appellate body, the National Appeals Board. See 18 U.S.C. § 4215; 28 C.F.R. § 2.26(a), (f). [4] A second option permits the Regional Commissioner to [r]emand the case for a rehearing, with the notice of action specifying the purpose of the rehearing. 28 C.F.R. § 2.24(b)(2). In Bowers' case, the third option was implemented, which allows the Regional Commissioner to designate certain cases for the original jurisdiction of the Parole Commission. 28 C.F.R. § 2.24(b)(1).