Barriere v. Hubbard

The plaintiff-prisoner, Richard Barriere, and the defendant chair of the Parole Board (Parole Board or board) disagree about the calculation of Barriere’s parole eligibility date. The dispute concerns the treatment of consecutive sentences for non-violent crimes when the so-called “A sentence” includes a mandatory minimum sentence which is greater than one-third of the prisoner’s minimum sentence. A *80Superior Court judge allowed Barriere’s motion for summary judgment; the Parole Board appeals.

The statutory framework. The Parole Board, established within the Department of Correction, but not…