The North Carolina Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission has granted parole to Timothy Johnson, an inmate convicted of first-degree murder, according to a media release issued on Tuesday. Johnson was convicted on May 18, 1995, and sentenced to life in Johnston County Superior Court. Under the Mutual Agreement Parole Program (MAPP), which involves the Commission, the State Prison System, and the offender, Johnson is scheduled for parole on February 2.
North Carolina’s structured sentencing laws, which took effect on October 1, 1994, eliminated parole for most crimes, but Johnson was sentenced prior to these changes. The Parole Commission continues to oversee the release of individuals sentenced under the earlier system. The Mutual Agreement Parole Program (MAPP), which includes educational and vocational training, is designed to help prepare offenders like Johnson for reintegration into society.
The Parole Commission continues to operate under the statutes in effect at the time offenders like Johnson were sentenced. While North Carolina has moved to a structured sentencing system that eliminated parole for most crimes, the commission remains responsible for reviewing and processing parole for those sentenced under the previous laws.
The notification did not provide details about the parole process or the specific conditions of Johnson’s release. The Parole Commission can be contacted for inquiries at (919) 716-3010. Johnson’s case highlights the continuing application of earlier sentencing laws and the Commission’s role in reviewing parole for individuals sentenced under those guidelines.
