Parole/Parole Board

Parole Board Practices - Protecting prisoners rights

2007 was by far the most successful legislative session we’ve had since our inception in 1999.

On October 2, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that the state’s parole board must follow Nevada's open meeting law. After the ruling, the Nevada Parole Board canceled all hearings, leading the Nevada Supreme Court to issue a stay on their own ruling at the end of the month. The stay permits the Parole Board to continue hearings without having to comply with Nevada's open meeting law.

"Wear one of these and you're never alone." That’s what the Deseret News had to say about a new tracking device that Utah will soon begin to use on people on parole. "TrackerPal" is an electronic ankle bracelet (secured by a reinforced steel cable) that will track a person’s every movement and pinpoint a person’s exact location using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Unlike existing ankle bracelets, which can notify officers if a person leaves a house, this one includes a built-in, remote-controlled speakerphone. People monitoring the device remotely can make loud, public announcements through the phone --- such as announcing in public that a person has a criminal record.

In a February 6 editorial opinion, the Las Vegas Sun advocated for open Parole Board proceedings. The Nevada Parole Board does not consider itself to fall under the requirements of the state’s open meetings laws, but their position is being disputed by prisoners, advocates for prisoners, and, now, the Las Vegas Sun. Open meetings, like city council meetings, must give the public adequate notice of a meeting, make the agenda public, and allow time for public comment, among other requirements. The Nevada Parole Board does not currently follow these or other open meeting requirements.