Mills v. Department of Corrections Offender Information Services

Opinion of the Court by

Chief Justice MINTON.

Terry Mills pleaded guilty to several offenses, mostly drug-related, the most serious of which were manufacturing methamphetamine while in possession of a firearm and being a first-degree persistent felony offender. In total, Mills received a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.

Based on his convictions, the Department of Corrections classified Mills as a violent offender. This meant that Mills must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence — 17 years — before he could be considered eligible for parole. Without the violent offender…