ÿWPCl çhvp¼†\øqÑ]ˆñd)4ÂŽ2†WÆRÄ,óÅúqÂ}Á«lS`°¦HoeìF±ÃˆI¨Z±¼6ˆ‰%0ã±*ÆGà"¬¢Ì £ø¯¹ÜÙïûîˆ:̳tf•¾/ýv¹S'ƒ:«‹Êzå™;ýN7»¼.Û: [àqþ}†k§¹êR“]VÕVõqVïpìzV-žjÛȸ$ÐÑ[žóá¥ö2Tۇμ\ç÷']%Oãþß–mý{;³W²tôǼ(:%FÖ˜Ce5hÏ:óH²~u‘"·ŠhКv×zc­‡Á‹±ci#y!°áZk±²u!!g€>ÜÒ:)Ì/ñÄŠ«1.ð·á|‡€j%,Œ.Ôª†<™ÅñÜþè¡1|÷B“IÍåKÀ!WÃdi©AB.¨f` ½ÿ‚Àá¾gXxç«Û/1ª‹Cbìz¿¶8v rPþ§.H†b”×1•Åw¯þêê5m,²Î–_OFÆ•Ëñ 4É´C&Ë^Tœ7;ŽEóÂV&g\¨yÙ}œÃôNû $¥öF3÷ÙtßN>±rù¬G¸; '_µ9À%OVc\ÓP} @øŠÔòb %\U@b 0ˆ¢U N*n­xN% ^ ' z3 Ò­ w 4ƒ — ¦ ƨ Æn Æ4 Æú mÀ N× #ÁÙ šE 0Dbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 0ëiiii BTT 0¤q D3 D-H 0Kuu ASÀÆ 0¤Ù 0D} A«Á»(ÆúI Z‹(Times New Roman (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular«<þ6X9`("Courier NewTTXXxþ6X@ÉDQX@×i )L  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptö~ì(ðžŸk2ÅÓ3|xLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4Si,ü,,,,,ü0 wÝ ƒR"è$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôŽ<ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAs€a€supplement€to€Mr.€Dixonððs€brief€we€have€been€provided€a€portion€of€the€Stateððs€brief€in€a€pending€appealÐ 8 Ðof€a€habeas€corpus€proceeding.€€In€that€brief,€the€State€notes€that€in€the€case€before€us€ð ðpetitioner€candidly€admitted€thatÐ È Ðthe€judgment€reflects€a€sentence€of€life,€as€opposed€to€a€sentence€of€life€without€parole.ðð€€In€that€brief,€the€State€appearsÐ È Ðto€be€taking€the€position€that€Mr.€Dixon€was€sentenced€to€a€life€sentence€with€no€prohibition€on€his€parole,€or€moreÐ X Ðtechnically,€that€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€reflects€only€that€the€sentence€was€life€imprisonment€without€mention€ofÐ X  Ðparole.€€The€State€has€argued€in€the€appeal€before€us€that€Mr.€Dixon€was€sentenced€to€life€without€parole.€€We€haveÐ  è Ðdetermined€that€we€are€bound€by€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appealsðð€interpretation€of€Mr.€Dixonððs€sentence.€€We€believeÐ è° Ðthe€State€is€similarly€bound.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(|G2"è$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€à4»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôŽ<ò»»Ô d(|3¹$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€à4»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3¹$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€à4»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€à4»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ8°ÑÑ8°ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼à4»»»ÔÑ8€æóXXdð»»d8ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼ÄT»»¼à4Ôà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îÌUÄTÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ 8 Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼ÄT»îîÌUG#ԈР^& ÐÓ  ÓMay€2000€SessionÐ „L ÐÔ‡XX»¼ÄTÔÌò òÔ#†¼ÄT»XX(#ÔWILLIAM€ANDREW€DIXONòò€€óóv.€Ô_ÔDONALÔ_Ô€CAMPBELL,€COMMISSIONER,Ð ‚J ÐTENNESSEE€DEPARTMENT€OF€CORRECTIONòòóóÔ‡XX»¼ÄTÔó óÐ – ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ – ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€98„3761„II€€€€€€Carol€L.€McCoy,€ChancellorÐ ‚ J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<E` AßÐ F  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M1999„02122„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€August€9,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ A  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓA€prisoner€serving€a€life€sentence€petitioned€the€court€to€order€the€Department€of€Correction€toÐ Ü Ðrestore€sentence€reduction€credits€it€had€deleted€from€his€record€after€determining€that€his€sentenceÐ È Ðwas€to€be€served€without€the€possibility€of€parole.€€The€trial€court€dismissed€the€petition.€€We€affirmÐ ì´ Ðthe€trial€court.Ð Ø  ÐÓNÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€CourtÐ °x ÐAffirmed€and€Remandedó óÐ œd ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼ÄT»àX#ÔÔ‡XX.¼ÄTÔBen€H.€Cantrell,€P.J.,€M.S.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòWilliam€C.€Koch,€Jr.óóÐ t< Ðand€òòPatricia€J.€Cottrell,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð `( ÐÌThomas€F.€Bloom,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€William€Andrew€Dixon.Ð 8 ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Michael€Moore,€Solicitor€General;€and€PamelaÐ Ø ÐS.€Ô_ÔLorchÔ_Ô,€Assistant€Attorney€General,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð üÄ ÐÓ‰ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼ÄT»XX¸#ÔÔ‡XX»¼ÄTÔÐ Ô!œ! ÐòòóóÔ#†¼ÄT»XX, #ÔÔ‡XX»¼ÄTÔÓ  ӀРÀ"ˆ" Ðà@µ µ ìàò òI.€Conviction,€Sentencing€and€Appealó óˆÐ ¬#t# ÐÌà  àIn€1978,€William€Dixon€was€indicted€for€the€crime€of€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€for€ransom.€€Under€theÐ „%L!% ÐÔ_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€statute€in€effect€at€that€time,€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€39„2603€(now€repealed),€conviction€ofÐ p&8"& Ðthat€crime€was€punishable€by€ð ðdeath€in€the€electric€chair€or€.€.€.€imprisonment€in€the€state€penitentiaryÐ \'$#' Ðfor€life€or€for€a€term€of€years€not€less€than€twenty€(20)€without€possibility€of€parole,€at€the€discretionÐ H($( Ðof€the€jury€trying€the€same.ðð€€Mr.€Dixon€pled€guilty€pursuant€to€a€plea€bargain,€and€was€sentencedÐ 4)ü$) Ðto€35€years€with€the€possibility€of€parole.Ð  *è%* ÐÌà  àShortly€after€he€began€serving€his€sentence,€the€Department€of€Correction€notified€him€thatÐ ø+À', Ðits€interpretation€of€the€kidnapping€statute€did€not€permit€parole€consideration,€and€therefore€that€heÐ ä,¬(- Ðwould€never€become€eligible€for€parole.€€Mr.€Dixon€filed€for€post„conviction€relief€on€the€groundÐ Ð-˜).ý Ðthat€his€guilty€plea€was€involuntary€because€it€was€predicated€upon€eligibility€for€parole.€€The€trialÐ 8 Ðcourt€agreed.€€After€a€hearing,€the€trial€court€vacated€his€conviction€and€ordered€a€new€trial.€€Ð $ì ÐÌà  àBetween€his€first€conviction€on€a€guilty€plea€and€his€retrial,€ò òó óthe€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€statute€wasÐ üÄ Ðamended.€€Under€the€new€version€of€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€39„2603,€effective€September€1,€1979,€theÐ è° Ðoffense€of€kidnapping€for€ransom€was€subsumed€under€the€offense€of€aggravated€kidnapping.€€TheÐ Ôœ Ðoffense€was€made€a€Class€X€felony,€and€references€to€the€unavailability€of€parole€were€dropped€fromÐ À ˆ Ðthe€statute.Ð ¬ t ÐÌà  àMr.€Dixon€was€tried€and€convicted€in€April€of€1981.€€The€verdict€and€judgment€form€statesÐ „ L  Ðthat€the€jury€found€him€guilty€of€kidnapping€for€ransom,€and€that€it€fixed€a€penalty€of€lifeÐ p 8  Ðimprisonment€for€the€offense.€€Mr.€Dixon€was€also€found€guilty€of€using€a€firearm€while€in€theÐ \$  Ðcommission€of€the€crime€of€kidnapping€and€was€sentenced€to€an€additional€five€years€for€thatÐ H  Ðoffense.€The€form€does€not€indicate€whether€or€not€Mr.€Dixon€would€ever€be€entitled€to€parole.€Ð 4ü  ÐÌà  àMr.€Dixon€filed€a€direct€appeal€of€his€conviction€in€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals,€in€whichÐ  Ô  Ðhe€raised€the€question€of€whether€one€who€has€been€convicted€of€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€for€ransom€may€beÐ øÀ Ðconsidered€for€parole,€after€becoming€eligible€under€the€general€parole€statutes.€€Those€statutesÐ ä¬ Ðapparently€provided€that€an€individual€sentenced€to€life€could€be€paroled€after€serving€thirty€years,РИ Ðminus€any€good€and€honor€time€earned.Ð ¼„ ÐÌà  àThe€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€conducted€a€close€analysis€of€the€language€of€the€repealedÐ ”\ Ðversion€of€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€39„2603,€and€held€that€the€discretion€exercisable€by€the€jury€underÐ €H Ðthat€statute€extended€only€to€the€length€of€the€sentence,€and€not€to€the€question€of€parole.€€The€CourtÐ l4 Ðaccordingly€affirmed€the€judgment€of€conviction€for€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€for€ransom,€and€the€life€sentenceÐ X  Ðwithout€possibility€of€parole.€€Mr.€Dixon€did€not€raise,€nor€did€the€court€consider,€the€effect€of€theÐ D  Ð1979€amendment€to€the€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€statute€upon€the€sentencing€options€that€had€been€available€toÐ 0ø Ðthe€trial€courtòò.€€State€of€Tennessee€v.€Dixonóó,€No.€11930€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€at€Nashville,€filed€AprilÐ ä Ð18,€1982).Ð Ð ÐÌà@œœìàò òII.€€Sentence€Reduction€Creditsó ó€ˆÐ ਠÐÌà  àIn€1985,€the€legislature€enacted€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€41„21„236€in€response€to€prisonÐ ¼!„  Ðovercrowding.€€The€statute€created€a€new€scheme€whereby€prisoners€who€exhibited€good€institutionalÐ ¨"p! Ðbehavior€could€be€awarded€credits€for€such€behavior€that€would€reduce€the€length€of€their€sentences.Ð ”#\" ÐSection€(c)(3)€of€that€statute€reads,Ð €$H # ÐÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÌð ðAny€person€who€committed€a€felony,€including€any€Class€X€felony,€prior€toÐ X& "% ÐDecember€11,€1985,€may€become€eligible€for€the€sentence€reduction€creditsÐ D' #& Ðauthorized€by€this€section€by€signing€a€written€waiver€waiving€the€right€to€serve€theÐ 0(ø#' Ðsentence€under€the€law€in€effect€at€the€time€the€crime€was€committed.ððÐ )ä$( ÐÌÒ°ÒÒ°Òà  àIn€1988,€Warden€Billy€Ô_ÔMcWherterÔ_Ô€sent€a€letter€to€Corrections€Commissioner€Stephen€NorrisÐ ô*¼&* Ðidentifying€ten€prisoners€in€the€wardenððs€charge,€including€William€Dixon,€who€had€not€beenÐ à+¨'+ Ðproperly€informed€of€their€right€to€sign€a€waiver€and€receive€sentence€reduction€credits,€and€askingÐ 8 Ðthat€they€be€included€in€the€program.€€Prison€officials€subsequently€explained€the€sentence€creditÐ $ì Ðprogram€to€Mr.€Dixon,€and€gave€effect€to€his€signed€waiver,€allowing€him€to€earn€sentence€reductionÐ Ø Ðcredits€and€other€benefits€retroactive€to€March€1,€1986.Ð üÄ Ѐ€€€€Ð è° Ðà  àBecause€of€his€outstanding€disciplinary€record€over€the€following€ten€years,€Mr.€DixonÐ Ôœ Ðaccumulated€over€2,100€days€of€sentence€reduction€credits.€€He€also€earned€trustee€status,€becameÐ À ˆ Ðactive€in€volunteer€programs€and€the€prison€newspaper,€and€completed€some€college€courses.Ð ¬ t ÐÌà  àIn€1998,€Mr.€Dixon€was€scheduled€for€his€first€hearing€before€the€€parole€board.€€PursuantÐ „ L  Ðto€statute,€the€warden€contacted€the€sentencing€judge,€to€solicit€his€opinion€of€the€appropriatenessÐ p 8  Ðof€granting€parole.€€The€judge€responded€that€it€was€his€understanding€that€Mr.€Dixon€had€beenÐ \$  Ðsentenced€to€life€without€the€possibility€of€parole.€€The€Department€of€Correction€immediatelyÐ H  Ðcanceled€Mr.€Dixonððs€upcoming€parole€hearing,€deleted€all€his€sentence€reduction€credits,€andÐ 4ü  Ðamended€its€records€to€reflect€that€he€was€serving€a€life€sentence€without€possibility€of€parole.€Ð  è  ÐÌò òó óà  àMr.€Dixon€filed€a€Petition€for€a€Declaratory€Order,€asking€the€Department€to€restore€hisÐ øÀ Ðparole€date€and€his€sentence€reduction€credits.€€The€petition€was€dismissed.€€On€December€18,€1998,Ð ä¬ Ðò òó óMr.€Dixon€filed€a€Complaint€for€Declaratory€Judgment€in€the€Chancery€Court€of€Davidson€County,РИ Ðnaming€the€Commissioner€of€Correction€as€respondent€in€his€official€capacity.€€Mr.€Dixon€asked€theÐ ¼„ Ðcourt€to€order€the€Department€to€restore€his€parole„eligibility€date,€his€sentence€reduction€credits,€andÐ ¨p Ðhis€right€to€earn€future€behavior€and€program€sentence€reduction€credits.Ð ”\ ÐÌà  àThe€Commissioner€of€Correction€filed€a€Motion€to€Dismiss€the€Complaint€for€failure€to€stateÐ l4 Ða€claim€upon€which€relief€can€be€granted.€òò€Seeóó€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€12.02(6).€€On€October€7,€1999,€theÐ X  Ðò òó ótrial€court€granted€the€Commissionerððs€motion,€and€dismissed€Mr.€Dixonððs€complaint.€€This€appealÐ D  Ðfollowed.Ð 0ø ÐÌà@‚‚ìàò òIII.€€Arguments€on€AppealˆÐ Ð Ðó óà@OO#ìàò òa.€The€Sentenceó óˆÐ ô¼ ÐÌà  àMr.€Dixon€argues€on€appeal€that€the€court€that€sentenced€him€did€not€have€jurisdiction€toÐ Ì ” Ðimpose€a€sentence€of€life€without€the€possibility€of€parole,€because€the€legislature€had€altered€theÐ ¸!€  Ðpunishment€for€his€crime€prior€to€trial.€€He€relies€upon€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€39„114€[now€codified€atÐ ¤"l! ÐTenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€39„11„112]€which€reads,Ð #X" ÐÒ°ÒÒ°Òò òÌRepealed€or€amended€laws€ð!ð€Application€in€prosecution€for€offense.ð!ðó ó€WheneverÐ h%0!$ Ðany€penal€statute€or€penal€legislative€act€of€the€state€is€repealed€or€amended€by€aÐ X& "% Ðsubsequent€legislative€act,€any€offense,€as€defined€by€the€statute€or€act€being€repealedÐ D' #& Ðor€amended,€committed€while€such€statute€or€act€was€in€full€force€and€effect€shall€beÐ 0(ø#' Ðprosecuted€under€the€act€or€statute€in€effect€at€the€time€of€the€commission€of€theÐ )ä$( Ðoffense.€€In€the€event€the€subsequent€act€provides€for€a€lesser€penalty,€any€punishmentÐ *Ð%) Ðimposed€shall€be€in€accordance€with€the€subsequent€act.€€[Acts€1968€ch.€513,€ðð€1]Ð ô*¼&* ÐÐ à+¨'+ ÐÒ°ÒÒ°Òà  àThe€appellant€points€out€that€the€trial€court€issued€a€Verdict€and€Judgment€Form€whichÐ 8 Ðactually€was€consistent€with€the€1979€amendment€to€the€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€statute,€because€it€fixed€hisÐ $ì Ðpunishment€at€life€imprisonment,€without€making€any€reference€whatsoever€to€€parole.€€He€arguesÐ Ø Ðthat€the€trial€judge€and€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€ignored€both€the€plain€language€of€theÐ üÄ Ðjudgment€and€the€1979€amendment€to€the€statute,€and€erroneously€interpreted€his€sentence€to€requireÐ è° Ðthat€it€be€served€without€parole.€Ð Ôœ ÐÌà  àWe€concede€that€the€1982€opinion€of€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€does€not€mention€theÐ ¬ t Ð1979€amendment,€and€appears€to€be€based€solely€upon€an€unrelated€sentencing€issue.€€However,€thisÐ ˜ ` Ðcourt€has€no€more€power€to€correct€an€erroneous€judgment€issued€by€the€Court€of€Criminal€AppealsÐ „ L  Ðthan€that€court€has€to€correct€our€judgments.€€Therefore,€we€are€compelled€to€recognize€that€courtððsÐ p 8  Ðaffirmation€of€Mr.€Dixonððs€life€sentence€without€the€possibility€of€parole.Ð \$  ÐÌà  àThe€jurisdictions€of€the€intermediate€appellate€courts€in€this€state€are€designed€to€be€distinctÐ 4ü  Ðfrom€one€another,€with€a€minimum€of€overlapping.€€The€jurisdiction€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€doesÐ  è  Ðnot€include€matters€of€criminal€law.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€16„4„108.€€The€Court€of€CriminalÐ  Ô  ÐAppeals€has€broad€jurisdiction€over€criminal€cases.€€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€16„5„108(a).€€This€includes,Ð øÀ Ðwe€believe,€the€power€to€correct€an€illegal€sentence€at€any€time.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Ô_ÔBurkhartÔ_Ôóó,€566€S.W.2dÐ ä¬ Ð871€(Tenn.€1978).€€If€Mr.€Dixon€is€entitled€to€have€his€sentence€corrected,€then€it€must€be€done€inРИ Ðthe€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals,€or€in€another€court€of€competent€jurisdiction.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€€Ð ¼„ ÐÌà@<< ìàò òb.€The€Waiver€Statuteó óˆÐ ”\ ÐÌà  àMr.€Dixon€argues€on€appeal€that€even€if€we€find€he€was€validly€sentenced€to€life€without€theÐ l4 Ðpossibility€of€parole,€he€is€still€entitled€to€the€benefits€of€the€waiver€statute.€€The€appellant€points€outÐ X  Ðthat€by€its€terms,€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€41„21„236(c)€is€applicable€to€ð ðany€person€who€committed€aÐ D  Ðfelony,€including€any€Class€X€felony,€prior€to€December€11,€1985,ðð€and€who€signs€a€waiver€of€hisÐ 0ø Ðð ðright€to€serve€his€sentence€under€the€law€in€effect€at€the€time€the€crime€was€committed.ððÐ ä ÐÌà  àMr.€Dixon€argues€that€the€only€exception€to€this€rule€of€universal€eligibility€are€prisonersÐ ô¼ Ðhoused€in€maximum€security€facilities,€such€as€death€row€inmates,€and€prisoners€being€held€inРਠÐpunitive€segregation.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€41„21„236(a)(7).€€Since€the€legislature€could€haveÐ Ì ” Ðadded€to€its€list€of€exceptions€the€category€of€ð ðsentences€not€eligible€for€paroleðð,€but€did€not€do€so,Ð ¸!€  ÐMr.€Dixon€contends€that€under€well„established€principles€of€statutory€construction€the€DepartmentÐ ¤"l! Ðof€Correction€had€the€legal€authority€to€accept€his€waiver,€and€to€make€it€possible€for€him€to€earnÐ #X" Ðsentence€reduction€credits.€Ð |$D # Їà  àBut€if€a€sentence€of€life€without€the€possibility€of€parole€is€to€have€any€meaning,€it€cannot€beÐ 8 Ðso€easy€to€transform€into€something€else.€€It€appears€to€us€that€if€the€legislature€intended€to€grantÐ $ì Ðparole€eligibility€to€felons€serving€valid€sentences€of€life€without€the€possibility€of€parole,€they€wouldÐ Ø Ðhave€had€to€do€so€explicitly,€and€not€by€implication.€€€Ð üÄ ÐÌà  àAnother€problem€with€the€appellantððs€argument€is€that€because€of€the€nature€of€sentenceÐ Ôœ Ðreduction€credits,€parole€eligibility€is€a€prerequisite€to€their€operation.€€Such€credits€accelerate€theÐ À ˆ Ðrelease€eligibility€date€that€is€built€into€the€prisonerððs€sentence.€€Even€an€ordinary€life€sentenceÐ ¬ t Ðincludes€a€release€eligibility€date.€€But€by€definition,€the€sentence€that€Mr.€Dixon€is€serving€does€not.€Ð ˜ ` ÐÌà@%ìàò òc.€Estoppeló óˆÐ p 8  ÐÌà  àFinally,€the€appellant€contends€that€even€if€this€court€determines€that€the€1985€waiver€law€didÐ H  Ðnot€properly€apply€to€him,€the€Department€of€Correction€should€still€be€Ô_ÔestoppedÔ_Ô€by€its€conduct€toÐ 4ü  Ðdeny€him€the€benefits€of€the€waiver.€€He€contends€that€by€giving€him€the€chance€to€earn€sentenceÐ  è  Ðcredits€towards€a€parole€eligibility€date,€the€Department€made€him€ineligible€for€participation€in€theÐ  Ô  Ðsystem„wide€recalculation€of€sentence€eligibility€dates€conducted€by€the€Parole€Eligibility€ReviewÐ øÀ ÐBoard,€and€thus€denied€him€an€avenue€of€relief€for€which€he€would€otherwise€have€been€eligible.Ð ä¬ ÐTenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€40„35„601,€et€seq.РИ ÐÌà  àThe€elements€of€estoppel€are€listed€in€òòState€v.€Chapmanóó,€977€S.W.2d€122,€126€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.Ð ¨p ÐApp.€1997)€as€follows:Ð ”\ ÐÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÌ(1)€the€party€to€be€Ô_ÔestoppedÔ_Ô€must€know€the€facts;€(2)€he€must€intend€that€his€conductÐ l4 Ðshall€be€acted€upon€or€must€act€so€that€the€party€asserting€the€estoppel€has€a€right€toÐ X  Ðbelieve€it€is€so€intended;€(3)€the€party€asserting€the€estoppel€must€be€ignorant€of€theÐ D  Ðfacts;€and€(4)€that€party€must€rely€on€the€former's€conduct€to€his€injury.€€Ð 0ø ÐÌÒ°ÒÒ°Òà  àWe€do€not€find€the€above€elements€to€be€present€in€this€case.€€There€is€no€proof€that€theÐ Ð ÐDepartment€officials€who€offered€Mr.€Dixon€the€waiver€knew€that€he€was€ineligible€for€parole€whenÐ ô¼ Ðthey€made€the€offer,€or€that€they€intended€to€mislead€him.€€It€can€be€reasonably€inferred,€however,РਠÐthat€Mr.€Dixon€knew€that€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€had€declared€his€sentence€to€be€withoutÐ Ì ” Ðparole€eligibility,€and€so€he€cannot€claim€to€have€been€ignorant€of€that€fact€when€he€signed€theÐ ¸!€  Ðwaiver.Ð ¤"l! ÐÌà  àFinally,€Mr.€Dixonððs€argument€that€he€was€injured€by€relying€on€the€Departmentððs€conductÐ |$D # Ðrests€on€the€premise€that€the€Parole€Eligibility€Review€Board€would€have€established€a€paroleÐ h%0!$ Ðeligibility€date€for€him€if€he€had€not€signed€the€waiver.€€But€not€only€is€it€uncertain€what€the€BoardÐ T&"% Ðwould€have€done,€it€is€also€unclear€whether€the€Boardððs€admittedly€broad€authority€to€amend€releaseÐ @'#& Ðeligibility€dates€included€the€power€to€declare€a€felon€to€be€eligible€for€release€after€having€beenÐ ,(ô#' Ðsentenced€to€serve€a€life€sentence€without€the€possibility€of€parole.€Ð )à$( ÐÌÌÐ Ü+¤'+ Ðà@dd)ìàò òIV.ó óˆÐ 8 ÐÌà  àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Remand€this€cause€to€the€Chancery€Court€ofÐ Ø ÐDavidson€County€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Tax€the€costs€on€appeal€toÐ üÄ Ðthe€appellant,€William€Andrew€Dixon.€€Ô#†¼ÄT»XX‰ #ÔÔ‡XX»¼ÄTÔÐ è° ÐÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à_________________________________________Ð „ L  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.