The Parole Board’s Duty of Self-Regulation

This article examines the Michigan Parole Board in terms of its structure, mode of operation, and certain legal issues raised by its procedures. The note argues that the Board’s and the legislature’s concept of professional, scientific decision-making is not an adequate substitute for the checks and balances which confine and control the discretion of other governmental agencies, and furthermore, that this concept is inconsistent with both the letter and spirit of the Michigan Administrative Procedures Act (MAPA or Act). Thereafter, an approach is suggested by which the Act can be used as a tool to legitimate and rationalize Parole Board procedures.