Code of Massachusetts Regulations 120 CMR - PAROLE BOARD
Here’s a detailed overview of 120 CMR – Parole Board (Code of Massachusetts Regulations):
📘 Overview (via Mass.gov)
Title 120 CMR covers the Massachusetts Parole Board’s regulations, spanning from definitions (100.00) through executive clemency (900.00).
Sections include:
100.00 — Definitions
101.00 — General provisions (e.g., powers, duties, parole decision authority) (mass.gov)
200.00 — Parole eligibility rules (mass.gov)
300–303 — Procedures for parole hearings, revocation, rescission (e.g., § 302 rescission, § 303 revocation) (casetext.com)
400–401 — Victim notifications and access
500 — Dissemination of criminal records (CORI)
700 — Termination of parole
900 — Executive clemency (pardons and commutations)
🔍 Key Sections Explained
101.00 – Powers & Duties
Authorizes the Board to issue parole permits, set conditions, revoke parole, supervise parolees (including those from other states), and serve as the Advisory Board for the Governor’s clemency petitions (mass.gov, mass.gov, regulations.justia.com).
200.00 – Parole Eligibility
§ 200.02:
For state prison sentences: inmates are eligible after serving the minimum term minus earned good time (with exceptions for life sentences or murder) (law.cornell.edu).
For House of Correction (county jail) sentences: eligibility is at half the term or two years—whichever is shorter; longer mandatory sentences follow mandatory term rules (law.cornell.edu).
300–303 – Hearings, Rescission & Revocation
§ 302.01: The Parole Board may suspend parole dates upon learning new adverse information (casetext.com).
§ 303.00+: Details procedures for preliminary and final revocation hearings, including violation warrant issuance and evidentiary standards (regulations.justia.com).
📚 Where to Access the Official Text
Mass.gov (Trial Court Law Libraries): Offers a free PDF of the full 120 CMR, with updates through Dec 23, 2022 (mass.gov).
Cornell LII: Provides select sections online (like § 200.02 and the full 200.00 series) (law.cornell.edu).
Justia/CaseText: Contains various sections such as § 101.01 (General Powers), § 303 (Revocation), § 302 (Rescission) (casetext.com).
Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Bookstore: Sells the printed full text of 120 CMR (100–900) (sec.state.ma.us).
✅ Summary Table
| Section | Subject |
|---|---|
| 100.00 | Core definitions |
| 101.00 | Board powers & parole decision authority |
| 200.00 | Parole eligibility rules (§200.02 key) |
| 300–303 | Hearings, rescission, revocation process |
| 400–500 | Victim rights, info dissemination |
| 700 | Parole termination guidelines |
| 900 | Pardon & commutation procedures |
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