Procedure at Initial Parole Release Hearing and Subsequent Review Hearings Where the Inmate Is Not Serving a Life Sentence
Effective Jan 13, 2017Mass. Register #1330MGL c. 27, § 5Massachusetts Parole Board
- (1) The initial release hearing and any subsequent review hearings are administrative hearings conducted by a parole hearing panel.
(2) The following proceedings do not occur in the presence of the inmate:
- (a) The pre-hearing conference among the parole hearing panel members and parole institutional staff.
- (b) The presentation of the parole staff member's report and any custodial authority documents to the parole hearing panel.
- (c) The parole hearing panel deliberations which occur after examining the inmate and receiving any information and/or documents offered by the inmate.
- (d) Consideration of information deemed confidential by the Parole Board.
- (3) At the conclusion of the hearing, the parole hearing panel verbally informs the inmate of its decision or recommendation and reasons therefor, except where the inmate is serving a life sentence or where the hearing is a Victim Access Hearing.