Patterson v. Smith

Appellant Patterson filed a pro se petition for writ of mandamus in the Circuit Court of Lincoln County, alleging that the keeper of the records for the Arkansas Department of Correction had misfigured his parole eligibility date. Appellant, who was classified by the Department as a third offender pursuant to Act 93 of 1977, Ark. Stat. Ann. § 43-2828 et seq. (Supp. 1985), contended that he should have been classified as a second offender. Under Act 93 a petitioner classified as a third offender must serve at least three-fourths of his sentence, less credit for good behavior, before being…