STATE OF MICHIGAN
JOHN ENGLER                                                DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS                                        WILLIAM S. OVERTON
 GOVERNOR                                                                                                                                  LANSING                                                                                     DIRECTOR


 September 26, 2002

 Warren Lupel
Katz, Randall, Weinberg & Richmond Attorneys at Law
Suite 1800
333 West Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL 60606-1288

 RE:  Hetherington 186155

 Dear Mr. Lupel:

 This letter is in response to your September 4, 2002, letter to the parole board in which you
requested information regarding the parole board's decisions to deny parole to Mr. Hetherington.

 First, I would like to address your conclusion that all prisoners must "see a three-member panel."
Our web site correctly states that all regular cases are decided by the majority vote of the
assigned three-member panel. For the cases that must be interviewed, only one member conducts
the interview. The other member(s) vote on the case based on their review of the file and do not
interview the prisoner.

 You also indicated that in the past "Mr. Hetherington has received two or three votes in favor of
parole." In actuality, he has been considered for parole four times (1997, 1998,2000 and 2002).
Only one of the numerous votes cast during these four considerations was for parole.

 In summary, Mr. Hetherington parole considerations have been completed on time and in
accordance with established statutes and departmental requirements.

 Sincerely,

 Michael E. Steely, Administrative Assistant
Michigan Parole Board

 MES/bss

 cc: File

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