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Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
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GOVERNMENT CODE |
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Title 4. EXECUTIVE BRANCH |
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Subtitle G. CORRECTIONS |
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Chapter 508. PAROLE AND MANDATORY SUPERVISION |
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Subchapter E. PAROLE AND MANDATORY SUPERVISION; RELEASE PROCEDURES |
Sec. 508.144. PAROLE GUIDELINES
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(a) The board shall:
(1) develop according to an acceptable research method the parole guidelines that are the basic criteria on which a parole decision is made;
(2) base the guidelines on the seriousness of the offense and the likelihood of a favorable parole outcome;
(3) ensure that the guidelines require consideration of an inmate's progress in any programs in which the inmate participated during the inmate's term of confinement; and
(4) implement the guidelines.
(b) If a board member or parole commissioner deviates from the parole guidelines in voting on a parole decision, the member or parole commissioner shall:
(1) produce a written statement describing in detail the specific circumstances regarding the departure from the guidelines;
(2) place a copy of the statement in the file of the inmate for whom the parole decision was made; and
(3) provide a copy of the statement to the inmate.
(c) The board shall keep a copy of a statement made under Subsection (b) in a central location.
(d) The board shall meet annually to review and discuss the parole guidelines developed under Subsection (a). The board may consult outside experts to assist with the review. The board must consider:
(1) how the parole guidelines serve the needs of parole decision-making;
(2) how well the parole guidelines reflect parole panel decisions; and
(3) how well parole guidelines predict successful parole outcomes.
(e) Based on the board's review of the parole guidelines under Subsection (d), the board may:
(1) update the guidelines by:
(A) including new risk factors; or
(B) changing the values of offense severity or risk factor scores; or
(2) modify the recommended parole approval rates under the guidelines, if parole approval rates differ significantly from the recommended rates.
(f) The board is not required to hold an open meeting to review the guidelines as required by Subsection (d), but any modifications or updates to the guidelines made by the board under Subsection (e) must occur in an open meeting.