Ch. 716                                        1994 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Article 41 - Governor - Executive and Administrative Departments

4-507.                                                 

(a)      The Commission or its hearing examiners shall hear cases for parole release at
least once each month at penal institutions under the Division of Correction and as often as
necessary at other places of penal confinement within this State at which inmates eligible for
parole consideration are confined.

(b)      The Commission may adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of proceedings
before it and the hearing examiners.

(C) (1) IF A VICTIM OF A VIOLENT CRIME MAKES A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR
NOTIFICATION UNDER § 4-504 OF THIS SUBTITLE AND ALSO MAKES A WRITTEN REQUEST
WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE A SCHEDULED HEARING FOR THE
INMATE CONVICTED OF THE VIOLENT CRIME THAT THE HEARING BEFORE THE
COMMISSION OR THE HEARING EXAMINERS BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THE HEARING
SHALL BE. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

(2) THE VOTE OF EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION WHEN ACTING
COLLECTIVELY OR IN PANELS OR THE DECISION OF AN INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER OR
HEARING EXAMINER ON A FORMAL ACTION INCLUDING AN ACTION TO CLOSE OR
RESTRICT ACCESS TO A PAROLE HEARING UNDER SUBSECTION (E) OF THIS SECTION,
SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC

(3) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION LIMITS THE ABILITY OF THE COMMISSION
TO HOLD A PAROLE HEARING THROUGH THE USE OF VIDEO CONFERENCES OR OTHER
MEANS OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

(D)     SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (E) OF THIS SECTION, THE
VICTIM OR VICTIMS REPRESENTATIVE HAS THE RIGHT TO ATTEND THE HEARING.

(E)      THE COMMISSION, A PANEL OF COMMISSIONERS, AN INDIVIDUAL
COMMISSIONER, OR A HEARING EXAMINER, MAY:

(1) RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ALLOWED TO ATTEND A
PAROLE HEARING IN ACCORDANCE WITH PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS OR SECURITY
REQUIREMENTS OF THE FACILITY WHERE THE HEARING IS HELD;

(2) DENY ADMISSION OR CONTINUED ATTENDANCE AT A PAROLE HEARING
TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO:

(I) THREATENS OR PRESENTS A DANGER TO THE SECURITY OF THE
INSTITUTION IN WHICH THE HEARING IS BEING HELD;

(II) THREATENS OR PRESENTS A DANGER TO OTHER ATTENDEES OR
PARTICIPANTS; OR

(III) DISRUPTS THE HEARING;

(3) CLOSE A PAROLE HEARING ON FORMAL ACTION TO DELIBERATE UPON
THE ORAL TESTIMONY AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION RECEIVED AT THE
HEARING; OR

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