MINUTES
Of the April 8, 2004 meeting of the
BOARD OF PAROLE COMMISSIONERS
NOTE: The following minutes have not yet been approved and are subject to revision at the next meeting of the Board.
The Board of Parole Commissioners held a public meeting on April 8, 2004 beginning at 9:00 AM at the following locations:
Conference room at the central office of the Board of Parole Commissioners located at 1445 Old Hot Springs Road #108B, Carson City, NV video-teleconference to the Parole Board office at 2601 E. Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV.
I. Call to order, roll call 9:00 AM
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Dorla Salling. Present in Carson City were commissioners Goodson, Bisbee, Morrow and Hanebeck. Present in Las Vegas were commissioners Morales and Bass. No members were absent.
Support staff and subject matter experts in attendance in Carson City:
Monica Howk, Executive Secretary
David Smith, Management Analyst III
Michael Somps, Deputy Attorney General
Dr. James Austin of the George Washington University
Roy Guirlani, P&P
Randy Gobbler (ICE)
Rex Reed, NDOC Offender Management
Greg White, Group Supervisor (INS)
Members of the public present in Carson City:
Pat Hines, Nevada Cure
No members of the public attended in the Las Vegas office.
II. Approve the minutes from the October 24, 2003 meeting.
MOTION: Approve the minutes from the October 24, 2003 meeting
MADE BY: Commissioner Morrow
SECONDED BY: Commissioner Hanebeck
VOTES IN FAVOR: Bass, Morales, Bisbee, Goodson, Hanebeck, Morrow, Salling
VOTES OPPOSED: None
III. Presentation by the Division of Parole and Probation on parole releases to INS hold.
Steve Weeks and Julie Chapman of Parole and Probation and Greg White from INS presented an overview of how P&P and INS work in dealing with alien detainees, and the difficulty they have complying when the board orders an alien to return to his country of origin if he is released by INS.
IV. Discussion and possible action regarding parole board procedures and conditions for releasing inmates to INS holds.
The Board discussed the impact of ordering aliens to return to their country of origin, mainly, those who are released by INS pending hearings and those who INS determine may remain in the United States. Greg White and P&P recommended that the Board change the language on the Board order to require parolees to immediately report to P&P if they are released from INS custody with time remaining on parole.
The Board discussed only releasing on parole those inmates with INS detainers that the board would release on parole if no detainer was in place.
V Presentation by the Department of Corrections on the current prison population and prison population projections.
Dr. Rex Reed, director of the Offender Management Division of the NDOC presented information pertaining to the overall change in the type of offenders in custody since 2000. He presented a statistical chart showing an increase in sex and violent offenders and a decrease in drug and property offenders in custody today compared to the composition of the prison population in 2000.
Dr. Reed indicated that the drop in parole grant rate may be a result of the hardening of the population, and that with the increase in prison population, we are likely to see more disciplinaries.
Dr. Austin indicated that while the discretionary parole grant rate had dropped, the mandatory parole grant rate had increased and while there is a slight delay in the length of stay, the release rate is fairly constant. Dr. Austin also indicated that our long term picture is changing.
Lastly, there was discussion about the change in NDOC inmate classification because it was getting difficult to find suitable candidates for placement into minimum custody. The length to probability of release was changed from 18 months to 36 months. This may also have an impact on increasing the parole denial rate at minimum custody locations.
VI Audit Report No. 03-07 by the Division of Internal Audits. The Board may discuss pro’s and con’s of conducting hearings in absentia based on cases conducted during September 2003 through March 2004. The Board may take action regarding the recommendations made by the Division of Internal Audits.
MOTION: Continue In Absentia Hearings through the end of November 2004.
MADE BY: Commissioner Goodson
SECONDED BY: Commissioner Bass
VOTES IN FAVOR: Salling, Goodson, Bass, Hanebeck, Morales, Bisbee, Morrow
VII Input and discussion on the comprehensive review of parole standards and the study being conducted by Dr. James Austin through a grant funded by the National Institute of Corrections. The Board may act to provide direction and guidance on this project and may choose risk factors that may be incorporated in a future risk assessment and/or parole guideline.
Dr. Austin provided statistical results of 865 test cases compiled by the Board. The Board was asked to compile one more month of data (the month of May) and include mandatory parole release and gender data in the risk instrument. Upon completion, Dr. Austin will compile that information and will report back to the Board in June or July.
The Board asked if it was possible to have a risk assessment and matrix for parole violation hearings.
VIII Public comment. No action may be taken upon a matter raised under this item of the agenda until the matter itself has been specifically included on an agenda as an item upon which action may be taken pursuant to subparagraph (2) of NRS 241.020.
Pat Hines spoke during the public comment section.
VIIII Adjourment The Board adjourned at 12:48PM.