Harold Curtis v. State of Rhode Island

Summary

The Rhode Island Supreme Court held that a parolee who serves time on community confinement is not entitled to credit toward his full sentence, vacating the Superior Court’s order that had granted such credit. The Court based its decision on the plain‑and‑ordinary meaning of G.L. 1956 §§ 13‑8‑9, 13‑8‑16(a) and 13‑8‑19(b), which expressly preclude credit for the period between release on parole and return to the correctional facility. The opinion also reaffirmed that parole is a privilege subject to conditions prescribed by the parole board, not a constitutional right.