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04-26-2004, 01:49 PM
Article Sixteen
Flexibility in Responding to Crises
1. When the Board determines that circumstances exist manifesting a critical need for the Board to expedite parole consideration, the Board may direct its staff to implement these procedures, consistent with available resources.
2. The staff will survey the prison population, with a view toward assisting the Board in exercising its discretion in setting priorities for special dockets.
3. After reviewing the data assembled by the staff, and considering advice offered by our staff, the Board may set criteria for Special Dockets. The Board may also set criteria for a Secondary Docket. These criteria will be adopted by special order of the Board, entered into the minutes and published on the Board’s web site.
4. Clerical staff will be assigned to initially screen files that appear to meet these criteria. These cases will be divided into three categories: those that clearly are excluded, those that may be excluded from the Special Docket but appear to be candidates for the Secondary Docket, and those that are clearly not excluded from the Special Docket. Cases that are clearly excluded from the Special Docket will remain scheduled for parole consideration on the tentative dockets previously established according to these procedures, except as otherwise provided herein. Cases that are not excluded from the Special Docket will be forwarded to a designated officer for further review. Cases that may be considered for a Secondary Special Docket will be forwarded to the Review Committee for further review.
5. Special Docket cases are those in which the current offense does not require victim notification under §15-22-36, Ala. Code. The cases will be initially screened by knowledgeable clerical employees.
6. Secondary Dockets may be established for closer review of prisoners who have been convicted of violent crimes, with a view toward identifying individual prisoners who appear less likely to commit violent crimes in the future. Because of the potentially higher stakes, the staff must exercise proportionately greater discretion in reviewing these files to identify candidates for earlier consideration. More experienced officers will review these cases.
7. The designated staff officers reviewing Special Docket cases will consider the nature and severity of the current offense, the seriousness of prior criminal history, and the length of sentence and time served; and may consider events occurring since incarceration to determine the rescheduled consideration dates. These designees are authorized to order rescheduling of consideration, within the parameters established by the Board’s emergency order.
8. The staff officers and clerical employees involved in Special Docket reviews will meet frequently and consult with other staff as appropriate, and will ensure that the Executive Director and the Board are kept apprised of their progress and of any potential obstacles.
9. The Review Committee members reviewing Secondary Docket cases will consider the nature and severity of the current offense, the seriousness of prior criminal history, the length of sentence and time served, and community attitude toward the offender; and may consider events occurring since incarceration to determine the rescheduled consideration dates. The Committee is authorized to order rescheduling of consideration, within the parameters established by the Board’s emergency order.
10. While any Secondary Docket order is in effect, the Review Committee will meet frequently and consult with other staff as appropriate, and will ensure that the Executive Director and the Board are kept apprised of their progress and of any potential obstacles.
11. Backlogged victim notification cases may be screened by a senior officer or senior VSO Officer, who may direct the Victim Service unit to expedite notice in cases where the information appears to be current, even if there are other cases more overdue. This officer may also screen backlogged cases to determine whether any other backlogged case should be expedited, and if so, he may direct that such case be processed.
I haven't read any of this before and was wondering if this is something new they have added...
Flexibility in Responding to Crises
1. When the Board determines that circumstances exist manifesting a critical need for the Board to expedite parole consideration, the Board may direct its staff to implement these procedures, consistent with available resources.
2. The staff will survey the prison population, with a view toward assisting the Board in exercising its discretion in setting priorities for special dockets.
3. After reviewing the data assembled by the staff, and considering advice offered by our staff, the Board may set criteria for Special Dockets. The Board may also set criteria for a Secondary Docket. These criteria will be adopted by special order of the Board, entered into the minutes and published on the Board’s web site.
4. Clerical staff will be assigned to initially screen files that appear to meet these criteria. These cases will be divided into three categories: those that clearly are excluded, those that may be excluded from the Special Docket but appear to be candidates for the Secondary Docket, and those that are clearly not excluded from the Special Docket. Cases that are clearly excluded from the Special Docket will remain scheduled for parole consideration on the tentative dockets previously established according to these procedures, except as otherwise provided herein. Cases that are not excluded from the Special Docket will be forwarded to a designated officer for further review. Cases that may be considered for a Secondary Special Docket will be forwarded to the Review Committee for further review.
5. Special Docket cases are those in which the current offense does not require victim notification under §15-22-36, Ala. Code. The cases will be initially screened by knowledgeable clerical employees.
6. Secondary Dockets may be established for closer review of prisoners who have been convicted of violent crimes, with a view toward identifying individual prisoners who appear less likely to commit violent crimes in the future. Because of the potentially higher stakes, the staff must exercise proportionately greater discretion in reviewing these files to identify candidates for earlier consideration. More experienced officers will review these cases.
7. The designated staff officers reviewing Special Docket cases will consider the nature and severity of the current offense, the seriousness of prior criminal history, and the length of sentence and time served; and may consider events occurring since incarceration to determine the rescheduled consideration dates. These designees are authorized to order rescheduling of consideration, within the parameters established by the Board’s emergency order.
8. The staff officers and clerical employees involved in Special Docket reviews will meet frequently and consult with other staff as appropriate, and will ensure that the Executive Director and the Board are kept apprised of their progress and of any potential obstacles.
9. The Review Committee members reviewing Secondary Docket cases will consider the nature and severity of the current offense, the seriousness of prior criminal history, the length of sentence and time served, and community attitude toward the offender; and may consider events occurring since incarceration to determine the rescheduled consideration dates. The Committee is authorized to order rescheduling of consideration, within the parameters established by the Board’s emergency order.
10. While any Secondary Docket order is in effect, the Review Committee will meet frequently and consult with other staff as appropriate, and will ensure that the Executive Director and the Board are kept apprised of their progress and of any potential obstacles.
11. Backlogged victim notification cases may be screened by a senior officer or senior VSO Officer, who may direct the Victim Service unit to expedite notice in cases where the information appears to be current, even if there are other cases more overdue. This officer may also screen backlogged cases to determine whether any other backlogged case should be expedited, and if so, he may direct that such case be processed.
I haven't read any of this before and was wondering if this is something new they have added...