Parole denied for Joshua Bennett; board cites unfinished prerelease and program requirements

The Committee on Parole denied Joshua Bennett’s parole application at a March 26 hearing, citing the statutory requirement that he complete prerelease and substance‑abuse/education coursework before release.

Bennett, serving a five‑year sentence for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, told the panel he has a job and family support on release. Representatives from his church and his mother spoke in support and said the church could provide housing or structured discipleship housing. Facility staff told the board Bennett had recently moved to a trustee dorm and begun programming.

Board members stressed that a law requires completion of the 100‑hour prerelease program and substance‑abuse/education coursework before release; they said they would deny parole until those programs are complete and noted that if Bennett’s facility does not offer the courses the Department of Corrections could move him to a facility that does. The board recorded two votes to deny and one vote to grant conditional on program completion; the majority decision was to deny.

Outcome: parole denied; board recommended that Bennett be placed where he can complete mandated programs so he may reapply.