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Judicial Review Of Parole Release Decisionmaking, Thomas B. Grier

IUSTITIA

An inmate at a federal penal institution "is entitled only to be released after full service of his sentence less good time earned during incarceration." He or she is not entitled to parole, for parole is not a right but a privilege, a matter of "legislative grace". The United States Board of Parole has "absolute discretion" in deciding whether and when to grant parole. The judiciary will not interfere with the Board, as "courts are without power to grant a parole or to determine judicially eligibility for parole." And since the Board is statutorily authorized to exercise broad discretion, and …