You asked for a copy and summary of the parole department eligibility reports mandated by law.

PA 01-09 of the June Special Session required the Board of Parole, by January 15, 2002, to report the number of prisoners eligible for parole after serving 50% of their sentences in prison (those who did not commit offenses involving violence) and who, by January 1, 2002, have completed 75% of their sentences and have not been approved for parole. By February 15, 2002, and by the 15th of each subsequent month, the board must report the number of eligible prisoners who completed 75% of their sentences in the preceding month and were not approved for parole. The board must send these reports to the Office of Policy and Management secretary and the Judiciary, Public Safety, and Appropriations committees.

Thus far, the board has submitted four reports. We have enclosed copies. The first report was submitted with a letter dated January 15, 2002. It indicated that as of January 1, 2002, there were 385 inmates who were eligible for parole after serving 50% of their sentence who had completed 75% of their sentence without being granted parole. The number was 348 as of February 1, 2002; 317 as of March 1, 2002; and 283 as of April 1, 2002. Please note that the February report, contains a typographical error. The report, dated February 14, indicates the figure is as of January 1. But Brian Anderson of the parole board informed us that this figure is actually for February 1, and that is how we have presented it here.

Some inmates are ineligible for parole. For example, those convicted of murder are ineligible. Those who are convicted of an offense where the underlying facts and circumstances involve the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force are ineligible for parole until they have served at least 85% of their sentence. All other inmates who are sentenced to prison for more than two years are eligible for parole after they have served 50% of their sentence.

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