Paroling, Recommitting, and Supervising Federal Prisoners: Parole-Eligible Prisoners Convicted of Aggravated Murders

Résumé

The U.S. Parole Commission is adding a provision to its paroling policy guidelines that requires the Commission to find compelling circumstances in mitigation if it grants parole in certain types of first-degree murder cases. These cases are limited to especially aggravated criminal behaviors that will rarely be accompanied by mitigating circumstances, as in the case of murders committed to silence a victim or witness, contract murders, and similar crimes. The purpose of the rule is to ensure that the release of such prisoners, at any point in the sentence imposed, will not promote disrespect for the law because of the absence of an explanation sufficient to establish a reasonable basis for the parole in the eyes of the public.