Nonviolent Offender Parole Review Process for Determinately‑Sentenced Persons
Overview
A nonviolent offender parole review is a process in which the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation refers certain determinately-sentenced nonviolent offenders to the Board for review and possible release, once the person has served the full term of his or her primary offense. Inmates are reviewed for release based on their criminal history, a review of their institutional records, and after consideration of input received from the inmate, victims, victims’ families, and the district attorney’s office that prosecuted the inmate. A decision is rendered after an administrative review of relevant and reliable documents; no hearing is conducted.
The nonviolent offender parole review process for determinately-sentenced persons was enacted by emergency regulations filed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Implementation of the nonviolent offender parole review process was mandated by the passage of Proposition 57, The Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016, approved by the voters in November 2016. Referrals of determinately-sentenced nonviolent offenders to the Board for parole review began on July 1, 2017.
The nonviolent offender parole review process replaced an almost identical parole review process that had been in place since January 2015 as a result of a federal court order. Specifically, the state was mandated to implement a parole review process for nonviolent, second-strike inmates pursuant to a federal court order in the Coleman/Plata class action law suit that was issued in February of 2014. As a result of that court order, the state implemented the nonviolent, second-strike parole review process. The majority of determinately-sentenced persons eligible for the nonviolent offender parole review process under Proposition 57 are the same persons who were eligible for parole review under the nonviolent, second-strike parole review process ordered by the court.
Persons Who Are Eligible for Nonviolent Offender Parole Review
Persons sentenced to a determinate or fixed term of imprisonment are eligible for the nonviolent parole review process. The person must have completed the full term of their primary offense, which is the single crime for which a court imposed the longest term of imprisonment. Additionally, the person must not be serving a term of incarceration for a violent felony as defined in Penal Code section 667.5, subdivision (c).
Persons convicted of nonviolent offenses will be reviewed for eligibility for the nonviolent offender parole review process by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Once a person is determined to be eligible for the process, the department will determine when the person will have served the full term of their primary offense. This date is called the person’s nonviolent parole eligible date (NPED). Persons who are reviewed will be provided written notice from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation of their eligibility and their nonviolent parole eligible date. Eligibility determinations are subject to appeal by the person through the department’s offender appeal process.
When Eligible Determinately-Sentenced Nonviolent Persons will be Referred to the Board of Parole Hearings for Review
At least 35 days before a person’s nonviolent parole eligible date (NPED), they will be referred to the Board for a parole review and possible release if the person is more than 180 days from their Earliest Possible Release Date (EPRD). Incarcerated persons will be provided written notice of the outcome of the referral decision by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Referral decisions are subject to appeal by the person through the department’s offender appeal process. Persons who are referred to the Board will be provided a written explanation of the Board’s nonviolent offender parole review process, including notification that they have an opportunity to submit a written statement for the Board’s consideration when determining whether the person should be released. Written statements should be submitted to the Board by the person within 30 days of the date the person is referred to the Board.
What to Expect After an Incarcerated Person is Referred to the Board of Parole Hearings
If the Board determines the person is eligible for parole consideration, the Board will send notices within five business days to victims and their family members who are registered with the Office of Victim & Survivor Rights & Services. The Board will also send a notice to the district attorney’s office that prosecuted the person. The notices alert the victim, victim’s family, and the district attorney’s office that the person has been referred to the Board for review and possible release. The notices also explain that victims, their families, and the district attorney’s office have an opportunity to submit a written statement to the Board for its consideration when determining whether the person should be released. Written statements should be submitted to the Board by the victim, victims’ family, and the district attorney’s office within 30 days from the date of the Board’s notice.
Once the 30 days has passed, the Board will assign the case to a deputy commissioner. The first thing the deputy commissioner will do is review the case to confirm the person is eligible for the nonviolent offender parole review process. This is referred to as a jurisdictional review.
If the deputy commissioner finds the person is not eligible, the deputy commissioner will issue a written decision with a statement of reasons explaining why the person will not be considered for release. The person will receive a copy of the decision and any victims, victims’ family members, and the district attorney’s office that received notice of the person’s referral to the Board will be notified.
If the deputy commissioner confirms the person is eligible for parole review, they will review the case to determine if the person would pose a current, unreasonable risk of violence or a current, unreasonable risk of significant criminal activity if released. This is referred to as a review on the merits. In making this determination, the deputy commissioner will consider factors such as the circumstances surrounding the person’s current conviction(s), the person’s criminal history, the person’s institutional behavior including rehabilitative programming and institutional misconduct, and any input from the offender, victims, victims’ family members, and the district attorney’s office.
The deputy commissioner will issue a written decision with a statement of reasons supporting the decision. Persons who have more than two years left to serve on their sentence at the time of the Board’s review must be reviewed and approved by a supervising deputy commissioner. Persons approved for release by the Board will be processed for release by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 60 days from the date of the Board’s decision. Persons who are denied release will be eligible for possible referral to the Board again one year later. The person will receive a copy of the Board’s decision and victims, victims’ family members, and the district attorney’s office that received notice of the person’s referral to the Board will be notified of the Board’s decision.
Review of the Board’s Decision
Within 30 days of being served with the decision concerning jurisdiction or a review on the merits, the person may request review of the decision. A hearing officer who was not involved in the original decision shall complete review of the decision within 30 calendar days of receipt of the request and will document the decision in writing. The person will receive a copy of the Board’s decision and victims, victims’ family members, and the district attorney’s office that received notice of the person’s referral to the Board will be notified of the Board’s decision.
If you need additional information about the nonviolent offender parole review process, please write or call the Board at:
Board of Parole Hearings
Post Office Box 4036
Sacramento, CA 95812-4036
Phone: 916-445-4072
Victims
Victims who would like to request notice and an opportunity to provide input concerning an person’s parole review or release must register with CDCR’s Office of Victim & Survivor Rights & Services. For further information, please visit CDCR’s Office of Victim & Survivor Rights & Services website or call toll-free 1-877-256-6877.