Nevada inmate parole interviews may end

A Nevada Parole Board audit recommends doing away with personal inmate interviews to save thousands of hours of travel time and the need to expand the size of the panel.

The audit by the Division of Internal Audits, reviewed Wednesday by the state Executive Branch Audit Committee, said 3,700 hours, worth about $200,000 in salary and benefits, would have been saved in fiscal year 2001-02.

"The commissioners could use this additional time for more thorough reviews of inmate case files and in deliberating parole decisions," it said.

In addition, the need to expand the seven-member board to nine members in 2006 could be delayed, the audit said. About $180,000 a year would be saved each year without the addition of two new parole board members.

Members of the Board of Parole Commissioners now travel to correctional facilities to conduct interviews with each inmate up for parole consideration. More than 3,500 cases were reviewed in the 2001-02 fiscal year.

Dorla Salling, chairwoman of the board, told the audit committee that in many cases members already have a good idea about whether they will vote to grant parole.

"It's not that we don't value their input," Salling said, adding comments by prisoners can be submitted in writing.

Interviews that are needed can be handled on a case-by-case basis, she said.

Salling predicted the board will approve the change. The agency then would have to find ways to ensure access to the parole process for victims and their families.