Oct 31, 1989 LETTER TO PAROLE BOARD (J. RICE) T1
Gary D. Lauffenberger October 31,1989
AJ 0476 S.C.I.
Cresson, Pa. 16630

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Board of Probation and Parole
P.O. Box 1661
3101 North Front St.
Harrisburg, Pa. l7105-1661       Attn: John J. Rice

Dear Sir,

I have what I consider an illegal sentence of 3 years minimum - 4 years maximum, which I have tried without success to have corrected. I have recently been informed of the existence of a Pa. Statute which states that a prisoner whose minimum sentence exceeds one-half of his maximum sentence (me), is eligible for parole at one-half of his maximum sentence.

I have been unable to locate such a statute and am inquiring whether you are aware of any such statute, directive, etc? I have brought this matter to the attention of Karla Jackson three times and she has informed me that I am eligible for parole at my minimum, that the Parole Board does not set minimum and maximum dates and that "this is done by Records office through the Department of Corrections", and suggests that I contact them or my counselor. I am aware of the Records Office role in aggregating sentences, but I believe she has that backwards, and furthermore seems to miss my point. I am not (here) contesting the minimum or maximum dates of my sentence (I believe this is properly done by the sentencing court). I am questioning the date upon which I am eligible to apply for parole, and contending that I should have been eligible for parole January 15, 1989.

As for contacting the Records Office or my counselor, both of those are well aware of my situation, as well as the fact that the sentencing judge has stated in a P.C.H.A. OPINION that I was sentenced to a total term of 2 - 4 years.

Although it is too late for me to benefit in the way of earlier release, I am scheduled to see the Parole Board on the 14th of November, and I would like this matter properly understood at that time. Your time and assistance in this matter are greatly appreciated.

Gary D. Lauffenberger

12/01/89 BOARD DECISION T2

Notice of Board Decision

PBPP-15(7/81).

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
PENNA. BOARD OF PROBATION AND PAROLE
DATE: 120189

CLIENT NAME: GARY D. LAUFFENBERGER PAROLE NO: 7870K

INSTITUTION: SCI - CRESSON

INSTITUTION NO: AJ476

AS RECORDED ON 111489 THE BOARD OF PROBATION AND PAROLE RENDERED THE FOLLOWING DECISION IN YOUR CASE:

CONTINUE PENDING COMPETION (sic) OF LEVEL III DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAM

(CG 12-1-89)

 

 

HERMANN TARTLER

BOARD SECRETARY

CLIENT COPY

GARY D. LAUFFENBERGER AJ0476
SCI - CRESSON
CRESSON, PA

 

 

16630

Jan 3, 1990 FROM Carl Gilbert T3
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
__________________________________________________
Board of Probation and Parole

January 3, 1990

P0 Box 1661
3101 North Front Street
Harrisburg. PA 17105-1661
(717) 787-5684
787-6698

Gary D. Lauffenberger(AJ-0476)
State Correctional Institution
Drawer A, Old Route 22
Cresson, PA 16630-0010

Dear Mr. Lauffenberger:

This will acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 31, 1989, advising that you consider your sentence of 3 to 4 years to be illegal.

In as much as any adjustment in minimum/maximum date is the responsibility of the Records Office, I therefore suggest that you direct your question to that Office.

You mentioned that the sentencing Judge in a PCHA opinion stated you were sentenced to a total of 2 to 4 years, could you furnish us a copy of that opinion.

Note: They were furnished that    
OPINION over one year prior

Sincerely

FOR THE BOARD

_____________________

Carl Gilbert
Pre-Parole Staff Technician    
Pre-Parole Unit

CC/daf

cc: Mrs. Jackson, SCICS

re: Parole No. 7870K

An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections/American Correctional Association

Jan 9, 1990 TO Chairman Jacobs T4
Gary D. Lauffenberger January 9, 1990
Parole # 7870K
AJ-0476 S.C.I.
Cresson, Pa. 16630

Pa. Board of Probation & Parole
Fred W. Jacobs, Chairman
3101 N. Front St.
Harrisburg, Pa. 17105

 

Dear Mr. Jacobs,

The Parole Board has improperly denied my right to apply for parole for the past year. Enclosed are copies of my requests to Ms. Jackson (A,B,C), attempting to resolve this matter, and my letter of October 31, 1989, to Mr. Rice (D), and Mr. Gilbert's response (D2).

Mr. Gilbert also seems unaware of this statute (61 P.S.A. 316), enclosed (E), and also misses my point. I repeat that I am not (here) contesting the minimum/maximum dates, nor the legality or illegality of my sentence. Title 42 PA. C.S. 9756 (b), and 303.1.(i) 204 Pa. Code of the Guidelines address this matter, of which I am advising the Pa. Dept. of Correstions, (See my concurrent letter to Mr. Owens). As you can see, this statute (61 Pa. C.S. 316), does not address such issues, nor any "adjustment" of my sentence. It simply states that a prisoner with such a sentence is elegible for parole at one-half of his maximum sentence.

Thus it is clear that both the Dept. of Corrections and the Parole Board have erred, resulting in an improper denial of my right to apply for parole. Please note that BOTH of these extraordinary "errors" were required in order to achieve this result, and was accomplished in spite of my best efforts to the contrary. I therefore consider this situation to be the result of either gross negligence, or a deliberate, malicious, and collusive intent to deny my right of due process.

The Board has now decided (12-1-89) to "continue pending competion of level III drug and alcohol program," (sic) I am enclosing copies of my requests for programs (G,H,I), which you will note go back to August of 1988, my admission to which was obviously delayed due to the errors as to my minimum eligibility date. Also enclosed(J,K,L) are copies of Certificates of completion of levels I and II. Please note that these were completed 4 - 6 months AFTER my actual minimum date.

Under these circumstances I believe the requirement of level III is unreasonable, and request that the Board reconsider such requirement. Thank you.

Sincerely,
___________________(signed)
Gary D. Lauffenberger

enc/(A,B,C)requests to K. Jackson
(D) my letter of Oct 31 to J. Rice
(D2) response from C. Gilbert
(E) 61Pa. P.S.A. 316
(F) my letter to D. Owens
(G,H,I)requests for programs
(J,K,L)Certificates of completion

cc/D. Owens
M. Dragovich

Mar 2, 1990 FROM Herman Tartler T5
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
__________________________________________________
Board of Probation and Parole

March 2, 1990

P0 Box 1661
3101 North Front Street
Harrisburg. PA 17105-1661
(717) 787-5684
787-6698

Gary D. Lauffenberger(AJ-0476)
State Correctional Institution
Drawer A, Old Route 22
Cresson, PA 16630-0010

Dear Mr.. Lauffenberger:

This will acknowledge your letter received here recently.

The Board reviewed your request and made no change in their action and continue your case pending upon completion of level 3 Drug and Alcohol programs.

Sincerely

FOR THE BOARD

_____________________

Herman Tartler

HT/djh

cc:Act Supt. Dragovich, SCI-Cresson
Mrs. Karla Jackson, SCI-Cresson
re:Parole No. 7870K

An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections/American Correctional Association

June 25, 1990 BOARD DECISION T6

Notice of Board Decision

PBPP-15(7/81).

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
PENNA. BOARD OF PROBATION AND PAROLE
DATE: 062590

CLIENT NAME: GARY D. LAUFFENBERGER PAROLE NO: 7870K

INSTITUTION: SCI - CRESSON

INSTITUTION NO: AJ476

AS RECORDED ON 052290 THE BOARD OF PROBATION AND PAROLE RENDERED THE FOLLOWING DECISION IN YOUR CASE:

REFUSE

FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE IN AND BENEFIT FROM A TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE, LEVEL III.

UNFAVORABLE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS RECONSIDERATION.

BOARD FEELS YOU SHOULD SERVE UNEXPIRED TERM - 1-15-91.

(CG 6-25-90)

 

 

HERMANN TARTLER

BOARD SECRETARY

CLIENT COPY

GARY D. LAUFFENBERGER AJ0476
SCI - CRESSON
CRESSON, PA

 

 

16630


 

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