Paroling, Recommitting, and Supervising Federal Prisoners: Parole Hearings Conducted by Single Hearing Examiners

Riepilogo

The U.S. Parole Commission is adopting a rule that permits parole hearings for eligible federal prisoners to be conducted by a single hearing examiner. Formerly, parole hearings were conducted by panels of two examiners, with single-examiner hearings being the exception. The final rule issued today makes single examiner hearings the norm, with the Commission having the option to order panel hearings when appropriate. Review and voting by the Regional Administrator will provide the Regional Commissioner with a panel recommendation of two examiners before a decision is rendered. The rule will also permit a hearing examiner (or panel) to withhold the recommended decision that is usually given to the prisoner at the conclusion of a parole hearing, if a critical issue requires further consideration. The purpose served by this final rule is to adjust the Commission's procedures to the down-sizing requirements of the Commission's impending abolition, without lessening the quality of justice in parole hearings and decisions.