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This site is hosted by the Family and Friends of Dr.
Mutulu Shakur, and is dedicated to one of the most
prolific, committed and conscious freedom fighters and
political prisoners to whom the Black liberation struggle
has given birth.
Dr. Mutulu Shakur - Dec. 2007 Parole Report
TO: Friends and Supporters of Dr. Mutulu
Shakur
FROM: Teri Thompson, Attorney
RE: Interim Parole Hearing
The Interim Parole Hearing for Dr. Shakur was held on
December 11, 2007 at USP-Florence ADMAX. Mutulu and I thank
each of you for your letters, prayers and support. Below is
my report of the Hearing.
[History of the Case]
Federal law provides, in relevant part, that a federal
inmate who is eligible for parole may be released on parole
after completion of one-third of his prison term or after 10
years of any sentence over 30 years. Dr. Shakur was eligible
for parole in 1996. However, his efforts to have a parole
hearing in 1996 were blocked by various forces.
In 2002, an Initial Parole Hearing was
finally convened. The Parole Commission denied parole to Dr.
Shakur and ordered a 15 year reconsideration date.
Therefore, Dr. Shakur is not eligible for parole
reconsideration until 2017. We have always maintained that
because of the 6 year delay, Dr. Shakur should be eligible
for parole in 2011.
In 2004, we filed a Petition of Writ of
Habeas Corpus in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Georgia to address, inter alia, the six
year delay in having a parole hearing (from 1996 to 2002).
Despite our legal battles which ultimately took us to the
United States Supreme Court, the highest court declined to
hear our case in 2006.
Even though Dr. Shakur was given a 15
year "hit" in 2002, federal law provides Interim Parole
Hearings every 2 years. In 2005, after the Interim Parole
Hearing, the Parole Commission refused to acknowledge the 6
year delay, and maintained that Dr. Shakur would not be
eligible again for parole until 2017.
[2007 Interim Parole Hearing]
On December 11, 2007,the Interim Parole
Hearing was held at the country’s most isolated dungeon,
USP-Florence, or "Supermax," as it is commonly referred to,
located in the mountains of Florence, Colorado. There is
absolutely no human contact or interaction. In fact, our
Hearing was held inside of an attorney’s booth; Dr. Shakur
was separated by glass and handcuffed.
The Hearing Officer began by reciting the
standard rules of Interim Parole Hearings: To determine
whether there have been any rule changes and to review any
and all "positive and negative adjustments" since the 2005
Interim Parole Hearing.
Ironically, the Hearing Officer commented
that the recent allegations that are documented in the two
disciplinary reports that Dr. Shakur received which resulted
in his transfer to the Supermax facility were "minor
infractions" in his opinion. He further stated that Dr.
Shakur’s transfer to Supermax was also "not significant" and
the fact that we were convened inside of the Supermax
facility was not relevant to his decision.
We argued again for the record that the 6
year delay from 1996 to 2002 was unlawful and that Dr.
Shakur should have a parole reconsideration date of 2011,
rather than 2017. The Hearing Officer stated that he was
bound by the previous decision of the Parole Commission.
We also argued that the recent
allegations contained in the recent disciplinary reports
were false and that we were actively appealing each
allegation through all available administrative channels. We
also maintained that the transfer to Supermax was
unjustified.
We raised each of the positive
contributions made by Dr. Shakur at USP-Atlanta and
USP-Coleman, highlighting his continuous service to
rebuilding men. We also covered his detailed plans for
release and reentry into society.
[Conclusion]
While the Hearing Officer appeared
attentive and impressed by our presentation, Interim Parole
Hearings generally serve to review an inmate’s file and to
determine whether there is enough evidence to modify the 15
year "hit." The Hearing Officer noted that while he found no
cause to change the previous decision, the final decision,
referred to as a Notice of Action, will be released in
approximately 30 days. We will appeal any adverse decision.
I have been proud to serve as Dr.
Shakur’s attorney over the years despite the number of legal
battlefields we have encountered. I encourage each of you to
continue to support him in the midst of such times as these.
Every single letter counts; I was proud to introduce over 20
letters from various supporters throughout the country and
from all walks of life to the Hearing Officer. They will be
a part of his file in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Shakur extends his gratitude and love
to each one of you. Dr. Shakur remains a bulwark of strength
and a never-ending diplomat for peace.
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