IN RE: LOUIS J. JONES (2017)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs and the petition is dismissed.

Memorandum:  Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding seeking to vacate the determination of the New York State Division of Parole (Board) denying his release to parole supervision.  Respondents appeal from a judgment granting the petition and ordering a de novo hearing before a different parole panel.  We reverse the judgment and dismiss the petition.

“It is well settled that parole release decisions are discretionary and will not be disturbed so long as the Board complied with the statutory requirements enumerated in Executive Law § 259–i” (Matter of Gssime v New York State Div. of Parole, 84 AD3d 1630, 1631, lv dismissed 17 NY3d 847;  see Matter of Johnson v New York State Div. of Parole, 65 AD3d 838, 839;  see generally Matter of King v New York State Div. of Parole, 83 N.Y.2d 788, 790–791).  The Board is “not required to give equal weight to each of the statutory factors” but, rather, may “place[ ] greater emphasis on the severity of the crimes than on the other statutory factors” (Matter of MacKenzie v. Evans, 95 AD3d 1613, 1614, lv. denied 19 NY3d 815;  see Matter of Huntley v. Evans, 77 AD3d 945, 947).  Where parole is denied, the inmate must be informed in writing of “the factors and reasons for such denial of parole” (§ 259–i [2][a][i] ).  “Judicial intervention is warranted only when there is a ‘showing of irrationality bordering on impropriety’ “ (Matter of Silmon v. Travis, 95 N.Y.2d 470, 476;  see Matter of Johnson v. Dennison, 48 AD3d 1082, 1083;  Matter of Gaston v. Berbary, 16 AD3d 1158, 1159).

Contrary to the contention of petitioner, the Board considered the requisite statutory factors and adequately set forth in writing its reasons for denying his release to parole supervision (see Matter of Siao–Pao v. Dennison, 11 NY3d 777, 778, rearg. denied 11 NY3d 885;  Matter of Kenefick v. Sticht, 139 AD3d 1380, 1381, lv denied 28 NY3d 902).  Contrary to petitioner's further contention, the Board's determination does not exhibit “ ‘irrationality bordering on impropriety’ “ (Silmon, 95 N.Y.2d at 476).

Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court