The N.C. Post Release Supervision and Parole Commission has issued a media notification announcing the investigation of Seltzer Lockhart's case for potential parole. Lockhart, inmate number 0526918, was convicted on January 18, 1996, for second-degree burglary in Mecklenburg County and was sentenced to life imprisonment under court case number 94 CRS 24369. The announcement, published yesterday, January 20, indicates that the case is being reviewed under the Mutual Agreement Parole Program (MAPP), designed to provide educational and vocational opportunities to offenders as part of a tripartite arrangement among the Commission, the N.C. Department of Adult Correction, and the inmate.
As per the notification, which complies with the stipulations set out in North Carolina General Statute 15A-1371(3), MAPP serves as a structured system through which parole eligibility is determined. Intriguingly, the state of North Carolina eliminated parole for crimes committed after October 1, 1994, because of the implementation of the Structured Sentencing law; hence, Lockhart's case falls under the jurisdiction of earlier guidelines that still include parole as an option. The Commission emphasizes its responsibility to parole offenders sentenced before this legal watershed.
During this investigative phase, the Parole Commission will consider an array of inputs, both in favor of and against Lockhart’s release. The process involves a careful review of the facts of the case, alongside information provided by various concerned parties. The Commission has confirmed that they will make a decision after completing their investigation, and will notify all necessary parties within 10 days of their final decision. Specific procedural details concerning the investigation are considered internal and are not for the public eye; this includes information such as victim statements and letters received against parole, which the Commission states are confidential and thus privileged information.
Anyone who wishes to learn more about MAPP or has questions about the parole process in general can reach out to the Parole Commission directly. To facilitate this, the Commission has provided a contact number (919) 716-3010. Additional details on the Mutual Agreement Parole Program can be found at the N.C. Department of Adult Correction's website through a link provided in the Commission’s notification. The program can serve as a critical step in an offender’s journey towards integration into society and is part of a broader effort to rehabilitate incarcerated individuals through scholastic and vocational training.
