This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
Judges and parole officials use these guidelines to help decide how long someone should stay in prison or when they might be released. The guidelines look at things like the seriousness of the crime and the person's past criminal record. This helps make sure similar cases get similar treatment across the state, instead of having wildly different outcomes depending on which judge handles the case.
These guidelines are not strict laws that judges must follow to the letter. Instead, they act as a starting point or reference tool. Judges can still use their own judgment based on the specific facts of a case, but the guidelines give them a consistent framework to work from.
For someone facing sentencing, this means their sentence is likely to be based on established patterns rather than pure guesswork. It also means the Board of Pardons and Parole uses similar standards when deciding if and when someone should be released early. The goal is fairness and predictability in how the courts and parole system treat people convicted of crimes.
