Preliminary Hearings
What is a Preliminary Hearing?
A first level hearing held for individuals with technical parole violations.
Why is this hearing held?
This hearing is required to be held pursuant to the United States Constitution and the Parole Board’s regulations, which provide that a hearing must be held before a parolee can be detained for a violation of parole.
When are these hearings held?
They are held within 14 days of the person’s detention on the warrant.
Who makes the decision in this type of hearing?
A Hearing Examiner. A Hearing Examiner is a Parole Board decision maker empowered to sit on parole revocation panels, conduct parole hearings in lieu of panels and conduct parole interviews on behalf of the Parole Board.
What is the burden of proof?
Probable cause
Does the person have legal rights at this hearing?
At each type of hearing, individuals are given their rights verbally and in writing. Individuals have the right to:
• Disclosure of evidence in support of the violations charged against them.
• Speak, have voluntary witnesses appear on their behalf and present affidavits and other evidence.
• Cross-examine adverse witnesses.
• Be represented by counsel. If a person cannot afford counsel, they may request counsel from the public defender of the county in which they are incarcerated. There is no penalty for requesting counsel.
• Request a continuance of the hearing for a good cause.
What happens after the hearing is held?
One of the following decisions will be reached:
(1) probable cause established – continue on parole
(2) probable cause established – detain and schedule violation hearing or
(3) probable cause not established – continue on parole.
*Charges can be re-filed if dismissed at this level.
Continuing on parole after first level hearings means the decision maker did not find probable cause to conclude the parolee violated the conditions of parole or the circumstances did not warrant detaining the parolee.
How long does it take to reach a decision and how is it given to the inmate?
If the hearing is held, a decision on probable cause is announced at the conclusion of the hearing and the written decision confirming the probable cause decision is completed within a few days. A Board Action is typically NOT issued following a preliminary hearing. If the Hearing Examiner finds that none of the alleged violations were supported by probable cause, you will be released as soon as possible. If the Hearing Examiner determines that probable cause exists, a violation (second level) hearing will be scheduled to determine if you are guilty of the violations.
Can the decision be appealed?
The decision after a Preliminary Hearing CANNOT be appealed. The Parole Board regulation authorizing requests for administrative relief only applies to parole revocation decisions and recalculations based on those actions.