MDOC explains parole process and warns of immediate releases after resentencing ruling; seeks legislative help for transitional support

Kyle Kaminski, OS administrator and legislative liaison for the Michigan Department of Corrections, told the House Judiciary Committee how Michigan’s parole process works and what the agency projects will follow a recent court decision affecting young offenders.

‘‘The Parole Board’s main authority is to grant parole to somebody who has served their full minimum sentence,’’ Kaminski said, and that parole eligibility is governed by statute and by objective parole guidelines the board uses to classify cases as low, average or high probability of parole.

Kaminski described the board as a 10‑member panel appointed by the MDOC director, mixing MDOC staff and public members. He said the board uses structured decision‑making and that ‘‘if you are in the High Probability of Parole category, you fall under something called Objective Parole, which ... limits the reasons the Parole Board can deny you parole.’’ The board reviews eligible cases, conducts interviews (typically by video), and establishes supervision terms, including standard conditions and special conditions such as no‑contact orders and required programming.

The MDOC presented several performance…