Section 208-1-II - THE PAROLE RELEASE DECISIONA. RELEASE CRITERIA The Parole Board has discretionary authority to grant or deny parole ( 34-A M.R.S.A. §5211, §5802). In making decisions, the Board attempts to balance the interests of society with the interests of the offender and, in each case, it must gauge the risk the granting of parole poses to the community.
In evaluating an inmate's case, the Board considers, but is not limited to, the following factors:
1. Adequacy of the Parole Plan. The Board expects the inmate to develop a definite plan with regard to re-entry into the community. The plan should reflect employment and/or educational objectives, living arrangements, and the availability of community resources capable of assisting the parolee.2. Personal History. The Board considers the inmate's education, vocational training, and other occupational skills, employment history, willingness to accept responsibility and history of drug, or excessive alcohol consumption.3. Criminal History. The Board takes into account the seriousness of prior and instant criminal offenses, their frequency and time span and any pending charges.4. Institutional Conduct. The Board looks at the inmate's institutional conduct, including participation in educational or other self improvement programs, and the nature and number of disciplinary proceedings.5. Previous Probation or Parole. The Board reviews the number of previous probations or paroles and the inmate's prior conduct and attitude while on probation or parole.6. Psychological Evaluations. The Board also considers psychological or psychiatric evaluations reflecting the inmate's mental or emotional make-up, and may request such Evaluations, if appropriate.7. Recommendations Made by the Sentencing Court. The Board considers sentencing recommendations made by the court.8. Recommendations and Field Observations. The Board considers observations and recommendations concerning the proposed parole program made by the investigating parole officer. Information is requested from the inmate concerning where and with whom he/she will reside, the proposed occupation or employment and any other facts the institutional parole officer deems appropriate. This information is submitted to a field officer who investigates the feasibility and desirability of the proposed program and makes a recommendation concerning the acceptability. A summary of the pre-parole investigation is included in the summary of the inmate's file to the Board.B. SOURCES OF INFORMATION The Parole Board obtains information from several sources: 1. The inmates institutional file, prepared by the institution and parole staff, containing information bearing on the factors mentioned above,2. The inmate and/or his spokesman at the time of the hearing.3. Statements by other interested persons such as victims, family of the victim or family members or friends of the inmate.4. Oral statements for the institutional staff and staff members from the Division of Probation and Parole who are present at the hearing.5. Any other information direct or indirect from other sources which is relevant.C. RELEASE HEARING PROCEDURE1. Pre-Parole Interview. In order to prepare the inmate for the parole hearing, a "pre-hearing" interview will be conducted for each inmate by the probation-parole officer assigned to the Correctional facility. This interview will be held approximately one (1) year before the inmate's projected parole eligibility date, at which time the inmate will be given a copy of the form entitled, "Initial Hearing Notice" (Appendix page 19-20). At this time, the release criteria, described in Section A above, will be reviewed carefully. The probation-parole officer will prepare the Inmate for the hearing with the Parole Board by stressing the importance of the presentation to the members. He will explain that at the parole hearing, the inmate must be prepared to describe his institutional behavior and the parole plan to include treatment and vocational programs which may enhance adjustment while on parole. At least sixty (60) days prior to the release hearing, the inmate will be notified of the date of the release hearing (form entitled, "Hearing Notice". Appendix page 21). At that time, the probation-parole officer will again assist the inmate by reviewing his activities at the institution, the parole plan, and the inmate request form (Appendix page 22). He will inform the inmate that if the inmate feels he cannot adequately articulate his thoughts, or the issues are too complex for him to present himself, he may request the attendance of any responsible person to speak in his behalf; the inmate will be informed he has no right to legal counsel. If the inmate requests the attendance of a responsible spokesman, he will indicate the name of the individual on the Inmate Request Form (Appendix page 22).
2. The Release Hearing. Hearings are not open to the public and attendance, without prior Board approval, is limited to Parole Board personnel, the Warden, Superintendent of the institution and his representatives, representative(s) of the Division of Probation and Parole, and the inmate and his spokesman. The inmate and his spokesman may request that any person(s) in regular attendance be excused from the hearing and the Board will consider the request. The Parole Hearing is conducted in an informal non-adversarial manner; rules of evidence used by a court do not apply. The Board may consider all relevant evidence. In all cases, the inmate will be given an opportunity to make an oral statement and to present letters and other documentary information. Written statements from interested persons may be considered by the Board.
The inmate may request that a tape recording be made of the release hearing to be used for purposes of appeal of a Parole Board decision. The request for a recorded hearing must be made at least sixty (60) days in advance on the Inmate Request Form (Appendix page 22). In all cases, a written summary of the release hearing will be prepared.
3. The Board's Decision. Following the interview, the inmate is temporarily excused while the Board deliberates. If, during its deliberations, the Board determines it needs additional information, it shall ask the inmate if he will agree to a continuance. If the inmate does not agree to a continuance of the hearing, his disagreement will be noted on the record and the Board will make a decision based on the information presented at the hearing. After deliberation and evaluation of the factors in subsection II.(A), a decision is made by a majority of the Board in attendance. The range of decision is: a. Straight Parole. The inmate is released on his eligibility date.b. Parole to Placement. The inmate is approved for release conditional upon his meeting certain requirements, such as approved residence and approved employment.c. Parole subject to Special Conditions. The inmate is released on condition that he abide not only by general conditions to which all parolees are subject; but also by specific conditions imposed by the Board.d. Parole and Discharge. An inmate with a consecutive sentence may begin serving the consecutive sentence when the first is terminated by the Board.e. Continued. With approval from the inmate, the case is postponed until further information is available; usually to a specific date or until eligibility on a concurrent sentence, the inmate's approval shall be entered into both the written and recorded record of the hearing.f. Parole Denied. A majority of the Board votes to deny parole to the inmate for a specified period of time; to include denial to the sentence expiration date. Parole denial for a specific period of time may also be used in those cases where the inmate objects to a continuance.g. Parole to Warrant. If an inmate has criminal charges pending, the Board may parole to a warrant. Once a decision is reached, the inmate is recalled and is informed of the Board's decision. At this time, he is given a copy of the form entitled, "Notice of Parole Decision" (Appendix page 23). If the decision is to deny parole or continue the case, the inmate is informed of the reason(s) of the denial or the continuance and within ten (10) days is sent a memorandum stating in more detail the reasons for denial or continuance.4 Parole Reconsideration. If an inmate is charged with a new crime or a violation or rules governing work release, furlough or institutional behavior or when new information comes to light indicating that the parolee may present danger to the community, after the Board's decision to grant parole but before his release date, the Board, at its next regular meeting, may reconsider parole. If it is necessary to hold an inmate beyond the original parole release date, a single member of the Board may authorize the Warden or Superintendent to hold the inmate until the next regular meeting of the Board.
If a decision to hold the inmate is made, the Board shall send him a copy of its Parole Reconsideration Policy and Notice of Parole Reconsideration Hearing (Appendix page 24- 25). In reconsideration hearings,, the following safe-guards are afforded by the Board:
a. Notice to inmate in writing of allegations and evidence;b. Opportunity for inmate to appear, speak and present witnesses and evidence on his own behalf;c. Opportunity to present witnesses and other evidence in his own behalf;d. Opportunity for inmate to cross examine adverse witness(es), unless the Board determines that disclosure of identity will create a disruption within the institution or create a risk of reprisal against the witness(es);e. Prompt written notice of decision and evidence relied upon by the Board.5. Release Hearing for Inmates Who Have Been Transferred Out-of-State. When an inmate from Maine has been transferred to a correctional facility in another state, it is not necessary for the inmate to be returned to Maine for a parole release hearing. The Board may request the paroling authority in the state where the inmate is being held to conduct a release hearing and to forward recommendations to the Board.
Based on that recommendation and the Board's own release criteria, the Board may grant or deny parole or schedule a hearing before it. The recommendation and case file will be reviewed by the Board on the inmate's regularly scheduled hearing date and the inmate will be notified within ten (10) days of the Board's decision to deny parole, to grant parole release, or to grant a release hearing in Maine. If a recommendation by another paroling authority is to grant parole, the Board may require the inmate's return to Maine for a release hearing before the Maine Parole Board.
03-208 C.M.R. ch. 1, § II