NCJ Number
76715
Date Published
1980
Length
19 pages
Annotation
The activities of West Virginia's Board of Probation and Parole between July 1, 1979 and June 30, 1980 are reported.
Abstract
Despite its formal title, the board has no duty or function in connection with the State's probation system. Its three, Governor-appointed members make parole decisions, while the Department of Corrections handles the field supervision of parolees. The report focuses on the board's selection and organization, the State's parole law, the parole process, and parole interviews. Also mentioned are paroles granted, denied, and revoked; parole violation hearing cases; parole from city or county jails; and clemency reports. Each section explains relevant parole policies and procedures. In summary, the board granted parole to 30 percent (210) of the 694 prisoners interviewed, as compared with 34.17 percent for the 1978-1979 period and 37.97 percent for the 1977-1978 period. For 66 percent (461 inmates), parole was denied, and the remaining requests for parole were placed under further consideration because of a lack of pertinent material for a decision. For this group, later board action resulted in 2 parole grants, 20 denials, and 1 case pending. Of the 101 parole violation hearing cases, 59 resulted in revocations for technical reasons and for the commission of felonies; 33 parolees were continued under supervision, and 15 cases were not brought to a hearing. Of the five parole applications from city or county jail prisoners reviewed, all were rejected. Finally, the board made 120 clemency reports at the request of the Governor. A table displaying the types of crimes on which paroles were granted and other tables are included.