ÿWPCö, A# ž %© 0¯¯4^rw@ÁUFÉ 0 ó 0D 0JFUF 0TÖ 0^* 0hˆ 0rð 0|b 0†Þ 0d AQô 1uE D/º 0dé BM Æj 0D0 0@t 0D´ Bø D3U6HU.~B)¬DCÕ AMU*e”]#[€“ÛXn„ÆzJêÄ3®2áƒ!–#v~¥%vÓ#'˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎX(‡,˜$¡¡ÑŒ °ÑѰÑÒ°ÒÒà°ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ7€¥XXdìXXdì7Ñê‚_# 3|x" D[UDUÓ€".Courier New Regular(£(3ŠÉ$¤¤Ý ƒ,˜!ÝÑŒ °ÑѰÑÒ°ÒÒà°ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ7€ÃOXXdÖdÖ7ÑÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô<4šÛ 9Z ‹.Courier New Regular2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô!"#$Cþÿ<< Cÿÿ ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)(('÷ÿ dxdP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ dƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óüÿP Pd'ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(Courier New< Œ 9p`(Courier% Line 7 d////7Border 1dd!#0Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial ŠÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€2ÔÔ€2ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€2XÔÌÌNovemberÏ10,Ï1997ÌÌCecilÏW.ÏCrowsonÌAppellateÏCourtÏClerkÔ  Ôó ó SÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝAny€action€taken€in€violation€of€the€Act€is€void.€€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€8„44„105€(1993).Ì QÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝPetitioners€contend€that€the€Board€relied€on€the€followingÏð ðillegal€and€unconstitutionalðð€factors€to€deny€them€parole:Ïseriousness€of€the€offense,€risk€to€re„offend,€number€of€victims,Ïcompletion€of€the€sex€offender€treatment€program€(Petitioner€ArnoldÏonly),€and€continued€participation€in€Alcoholics€AnonymousÏ(Petitioner€Evans€only).Ì ‰Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝOfficial€parole€decisions€include€the€decision€to€grant,€deny,Ïrevoke,€or€rescind€parole.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„28„105(d)Ï(1990).Ì NÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€ð ðaftercareðð€referred€to€is€apparently€the€sex€offenderÏtreatment€program.Ì zÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝArnold€also€requested€an€appeal€hearing€before€the€Board,Ïciting€ð ðsignificant€new€informationðð€that€was€not€available€at€theÏinitial€parole€hearing.€€The€ð ðnewðð€information€was€a€stipulation€inÏòòDean€v.€McWherteróó,€1:90„0027€(M.D.€Tenn.€filed€August€18,€1994).€ÏAccording€to€Arnold,€the€stipulation€prohibited€the€Board€fromÏdenying€him€parole€because€he€had€not€yet€completed€the€sexÏoffender€treatment€program.€€Arnold€also€contended€that€the€hearingÏofficer€had€engaged€in€misconduct€by€failing€to€obtain€a€medicalÏevaluation€to€determine€whether€Arnold€posed€a€threat€if€released.€ÏThe€Board€denied€Arnoldððs€request.€Ì pÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€Board€concedes€that€it€is€a€ð ðgoverning€bodyðð€within€theÏmeaning€of€the€statute€and€thus€subject€to€the€Act.Ì àÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThus€by€1988,€the€Board€was€authorized€to€make€paroleÏdecisions€upon€the€concurrence€of€three€members„„a€significantlyÏdifferent€procedure€from€the€1980€version€that€required€a€majorityÏvote€of€the€members€present€at€the€meeting.Ì )Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThis€factor€applies€only€to€Petitioner€Arnold.Ì (Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThis€factor€applies€only€to€Petitioner€Evans.Ì yÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝIn€òòDean€v.€McWherteróó,€No.€1:90„0027€(M.D.€Tenn.€filed€AugustÏ18,€1994),€the€State€agreed€that€only€those€sex€offenders€committedÏto€custody€after€the€sex€offender€treatment€program€was€institutedÏwould€be€required€to€complete€that€program€as€a€precondition€forÏrelease€on€parole.€€There€is€no€indication€in€the€record€that€theÏState€has€failed€to€comply€with€this€stipulation.Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝIn€a€related€claim,€Arnold€contends€that€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÏ40„28„116(a)(2)€entitles€him€to€a€psychological€evaluation.€ÏHowever,€this€statute€restricts€the€Boardððs€discretion€to€paroleÏsex€offenders;€it€does€not€grant€such€offenders€the€right€to€anÏevaluation.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€-ÔÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ à ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ#€..Xd#ÑÑ#€..Xd#ÑÝ  ÝÑ ° ÑÑ ° Ñ›Ñ À ÑÓ` °‚X˜XÓÑ7€ ÃO XXdÖXXdÖ7ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÔ€-&ÔÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌJIMMY€ARNOLDà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€à à)€€à àFOR€PUBLICATIONÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€à àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€à àœFILED:€NOVEMBER€10,›€1997Ìà àœPetitioner›à àà àà à)€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€à àDAVIDSON€COUNTYÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€à àHON.€C.€ALLEN€HIGH,€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à à€€€œChancellor€›€œand›ÌTENNESSEE€BOARD€OF€PAROLES,à àà à)à àHON.€ELLEN€HOBBS€LYLE,Ìet€al.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à à€€€Chancellor€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNO.€01„S„01„9610„CH„00210̜ـ!ÙßR€130A1-j|¿ü` Ú/ `€€@ÿRß›€€€€€à àRespondents€€€€à àà àœà à)›ÌÌœÌ_________________________________ÌÌ̛̜ANTHONY€EVANSà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€à à)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€à àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àPetitionerà àà àà à)€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€à àDAVIDSON€COUNTYÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHON.€ELLEN€HOBBS€LYLE,ÌTENNESSEE€BOARD€OF€PAROLES,à àà à)à à€€€Chancellor€Ìet€al.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ì€€€€€à àRespondents€€€€à àà àà à)Ì›ÌÌÌœòòÌFor›€œPetitioner€Arnoldóó:òò›à àà àà àFor€Respondentsóó:ÌÌœJIMMY€ARNOLD›à àà àà àà àà àJOHN€KNOX€WALKUPÌœPro€se€€€€€€€›à àà àà àà àà àAttorney€General€and€ReporterÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àMICHAEL€E.€MOOREÌà àà àà àà àà àà àSolicitor€General̛̜à àà àà àà àà àà àMERRILYN€FEIRMANÌà àà àà àà àà àà àAssistant€Attorney€GeneralÌà àà àà àà àà àà àNashville,€TNÌà àà àà àà àÌÌœòòFor€Petitioner€Evansóó:òòà àà àà àFor€Respondentsóó:ÌÌANTHONY€EVANSà àà àà àà àà àJOHN€KNOX€WALKUPÌPro€se€€€€€€€à àà àà àà àà àAttorney€General€and€ReporterÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àMICHAEL€E.€MOOREÌà àà àà àà àà àà àSolicitor€GeneralÌ€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àPATRICIA€C.€KUSSMANÌà àà àà àà àà àà àAssistant€Attorney€GeneralÌà àà àà àà àà àà àNashville,€TNÌ›ÌÌà@ àòòOPINIONÌÌóóÌœAS›€TO€ARNOLD:€œ€AFFIRMED›à àà àà àà à€à àà àà à€€BIRCH,€œJ.Ô€-XÔÌÔ€-&ÔAS€TO€EVANS:€€€AFFIRMED€IN€PART,€REVERSED€IN€PARTÔ€-XÔÌÌÑ7€ ÃO XXdÖ XXdÖ7ÑÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÓÓ›à àJimmy€Arnold€and€Anthony€Evans,€both€serving€sentences€inÏthe€Department€of€Correction,€filed€individual€petitions€for€theÏcommon€law€writ€of€certiorari€in€the€Chancery€Court€for€DavidsonÏCounty.€€Each€petitioner€contended€that€in€reviewing€his€file€forÏparole€the€Board€of€Paroles€(Board)€failed€to€hold€an€open€meetingÏas€required€by€the€Open€Meetings€Act,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„44„101€òòetÏœseq.óó€(1993)›× ƒ4 ××  ×€€Further,€each€petitioner€challenged€the€substantiveÏbasis€for€the€Boardððs€decision€denying€parole.× ƒ5 ××  ×ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€dismissed€each€petition€for€failure€toÏstate€a€claim€upon€which€relief€may€be€granted,€and€the€Court€ofÏAppeals€affirmed€the€trial€courtððs€judgment.€€We€granted€theÏpetitionersðð€applications€for€permission€to€appeal€and€consolidatedÏthe€cases.€€œÌ›Ìœà àThe€petitioners€assert€that€the€procedure€utilized€by€theÏBoard€to€make€parole€decisions× ƒ6 ××  ×€violates€the€Open€Meetings€Act.€ÏUnder€this€procedure,€each€Board€member€separately€andÏindependently€reviews€the€cases€before€the€Board.€€Each€case€fileÏis€circulated,€in€turn,€to€each€of€the€Board€members.€€A€memberÏformulates€his€or€her€decision€without€conferring€with€any€otherÏmember,€relying€solely€on€the€record€compiled€by€the€hearingÏofficer.Ì›Ìà àœBecause›€the€Board€is€not€required€by€œits›€enabling€statuteÏto€meet€in€order€to€œconsider›€parole€œdecisions,€we€conclude€that€theÏabove„described€procedure€utilized€by€the€Board€to€make€paroleÍdecisions€is€not€subject€to€the€Open€Meetings€Act.€€We›€further€findÏthat€the€Board€properly€denied€each€petitioner€parole.€€Finally,€weÏhold€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€dismissing€Evansðð€claim€forÏinjunctive€relief€as€to€the€Boardððs€requirement€that€he€continue€toÏparticipate€in€Alcoholics€Anonymous.€€As€to€Arnold,€we€affirm€theÏjudgment€of€the€Court€of€Appeals.€€As€to€Evans,€we€affirm€theÏjudgment€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€in€part€and€reverse€in€part.ÌÌà@ àIÌÌà àThe€initial€step€in€the€parole€decision€process€is€aÏhearing€before€a€designated€member€of€the€Board€or€a€hearingÏofficer.€€A€hearing€was€held€in€each€case€under€review€to€determineÏwhether€the€petitioner€should€be€released€on€parole.€€As€to€Arnold,Ïthe€hearing€officer€recommended€that€parole€be€denied€because€ofÏthe€seriousness€of€the€offense€and€so€that€Arnold€could€ð ðcontinueÏwith€aftercare.ðð× ƒ7 ××  ×€€The€hearing€officerððs€recommendation€and€ArnoldððsÏfile€were€then€circulated€among€the€members€of€the€Board.€€TheÏBoard€members€reviewed€Arnoldððs€case€individually;€there€is€noÍevidence€that€Board€members€conferred€with€one€another€aboutÏArnoldððs€case.€€Rather,€each€member€separately€reviewed€the€fileÏand€indicated€in€writing€his€or€her€adoption€or€modification€of€theÏhearing€officerððs€recommendation.€€All€four€members€who€reviewedÏArnoldððs€case€concurred€with€the€recommendation€of€the€hearingÏofficer€to€deny€parole.× ƒ8 ××  ×ÌÌà àAs€to€Evans,€the€hearing€officer€recommended€denial€ofÏparole€because€of€the€seriousness€of€his€offense,€because€of€hisÏhigh€risk€to€re„offend,€and€so€that€Evans€could€continue€toÏparticipate€in€the€alcohol€treatment€program.€€The€hearingÏofficerððs€recommendation€and€Evansðð€file€were€then€circulated€amongÏmembers€of€the€Board.€€The€five€members€of€the€Board€who€reviewedÏEvansðð€case€concurred€with€the€hearing€officerððs€recommendation€toÏdeny€parole.€€Three€members€cited€additional€reasons€for€denyingÍparole.€€The€Board€utilized€the€same€procedure€to€reach€itsÏdecision€in€Evansðð€case€as€it€did€in€Arnoldððs€case.ÌÌà@ àIIÌÌà àUnder€the€common€law€writ€of€certiorari,€the€decisions€ofÏthe€Board€are€reviewable€to€determine€whether€the€Board€exceededÏits€jurisdiction,€or€acted€illegally,€fraudulently,€or€arbitrarily.€€ÏòòPowell€v.€Parole€Eligibility€Review€Bd.óó,€879€S.W.2d€871,€873€(Tenn.ÏCt.€App.€1994).€€However,€the€correctness€of€the€Boardððs€decisionÏis€not€reviewable€under€the€writ.€€òòState€ex€rel.€McMorrough€v.ÏHuntóó,€137€Tenn.€243,€192€S.W.€931,€933€œ(1917).Ì›Ìà àPursuant€to€the€Open€Meetings€Act,€ð ð[t]he€policy€of€thisÏstate€[is]€that€the€formation€of€public€policy€and€decisions€isÏpublic€business€and€shall€not€be€conducted€in€secret.ðð€€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€8„44„101.€€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€8„44„102(a)€requiresÏthat€all€meetings€of€any€governing€body€be€public.× ƒ9 ××  ×€€œThe€OpenÏMeetings€Act€defines€a€meeting€as€ð ðthe€convening€of€a€governingÍbody€of€a€public€body€for€which€a€quorum€is€required€in€order€toÏmake€a€decision€or€to€deliberate€toward€a€decision€on€any€matter.ðð€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„44„102(b)(2).€€›ÌœÌà àYet,€the€Boardððs€enabling€statute€does€not€require€aÏmeeting€in€order€to€deliberate€or€make€parole€decisions.€€TennesseeÏCode€Annotated€ðð€40„28„105€(1990)€provides€in€pertinent€part:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà8 à(b)€The€board€shall€prescribe€theÏtimes€and€places€of€its€meetings€andÏshall€schedule€hearings€at€eachÏcorrectional€institution€or€facilityÏat€such€times€as€may€be€necessary€toÏdischarge€its€duties.€€All€votesÏtaken€by€the€board€shall€be€by€publicÏballot€or€public€roll€call.€€NoÏsecret€ballots€or€secret€roll€callsÏshall€be€permitted.ÌÌà àà8 à.€.€.€.ÌÌà8 àà8 à(d)€A€majority€of€members€of€theÏboard€shall€constitute€a€quorum€forÏofficial€administrative€business.€ÏThe€chairman€of€the€board€mayÏdesignate€individual€parole€boardÏmembers€and€appoint€hearing€officersÏwho€shall€be€authorized€to€conductÏhearings,€take€testimony€and€makeÏproposed€findings€of€fact€andÏrecommendations€to€the€boardÏregarding€a€grant,€denial,Ïrevocation,€or€rescission€of€parole.€ÏòòSuch€findings€and€recommendationsÏshall€be€reduced€to€writing€andÍreviewed€by€board€members€who€shallÏadopt,€modify,€or€reject€theÏrecommendationsóó.€€No€person€shall€beÏparoled€nor€shall€the€parole€of€anyÏperson€be€denied,€revoked,€orÏrescinded€without€the€concurrence€ofÏthree€(3)€board€members.€.€.€.Ï(emphasis€added)ÌÓÓÌWe€discern€nothing€in€subsections€(b)€or€(d)€that€requires€theÏBoard€to€meet€and€deliberate€prior€to€making€a€parole€decision.€ÏSubsection€(b)€simply€requires€that€the€Board€ð ðprescribeðð€the€timesÏand€places€of€its€meetings.€€In€other€words,€when€the€Board€doesÏmeet,€proper€notice€of€the€meeting€is€required.€€A€ð ðpublic€ballotððÏdenotes€a€written€document€such€as€was€used€to€deny€the€petitionersÏparole;€ð ðpublic€roll€callðð€describes€a€process€commonly€used€at€aÏpublic€meeting€where€Board€members€would€indicate€their€voteÏverbally.€€In€our€view,€the€document€on€which€the€Board€membersÏindicated€their€adoption,€modification,€or€rejection€of€the€hearingÏofficerððs€recommendation,€is€a€matter€of€public€record€and,€asÏsuch,€is€sufficient€to€constitute€a€ð ðpublic€ballot.ðð€€€Similarly,Ïsubsection€(d)€does€not€require€Board€members€to€meet,€confer,€orÏdeliberate€on€parole€decisions.€€Rather,€Board€members€are€simplyÏrequired€to€review€the€findings€and€recommendations€and€adopt,Ïmodify,€or€reject€them.ÌÌà àFurther,€a€review€of€the€prior€versions€of€this€statute€Ïconfirms€that€the€legislature€has€eliminated€the€requirement€thatÏthe€Board€meet€and€deliberate€prior€to€making€a€parole€decision.€ÏBy€€eliminating€the€requirement€that€the€Board€meet€and€deliberate,Ïthe€legislature€has€clearly€demonstrated€its€intent€to€exempt€fromÏthe€Open€Meetings€Act€the€Boardððs€procedure€for€making€paroleÏdecisions.€€The€1975€version€of€this€statute€plainly€required€theÏBoard€to€meet€in€order€to€make€parole€decisions:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà8 àThe€board€shall€meet€.€.€.€for€a€fullÏstudy€of€the€cases€of€all€prisonersÏeligible€for€release€on€parole,€andÏfor€determining€when€and€under€whatÏconditions€and€to€whom€such€paroleÏmay€be€granted.€.€.€.€€A€majority€ofÏthe€board€shall€constitute€a€quorumÏfor€the€transaction€of€all€business.€ÌÓÓÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„3602€(1975).€€In€1979,€the€statute€was€amendedÏto€provide€that:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà8 àòòThree€(3)€members€of€the€board€shallÏconstitute€a€quorum€for€theÏtransaction€of€official€business€and,Ïexcept€as€hereinafter€provided,€aÏmajority€vote€of€those€present€at€anyÏmeeting€shall€be€sufficient€for€anyÏaction€taken€by€the€board.óó€€In€casesÏof€the€granting€of€parole,€theÍchairman€of€the€board€may€designateÏits€members€to€sit€in€panels€of€twoÏ(2)€members,€which€panels€shall€haveÏauthority€to€conduct€hearings€andÏtake€testimony€and€to€make€proposedÏfindings€of€fact€and€recommendationsÏto€the€full€board€regarding€theÏdisposition€of€a€request€to€grantÏparole.€.€.€.€No€person€shall€beÏparoled€or€discharged€from€parole€norÏthe€parole€of€any€person€revoked,Ïexcept€by€a€majority€vote€of€theÏentire€membership€of€the€board.ÌÓÓÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„3602(d)€(Supp.€1980)(emphasis€added).€€InÏ1981,€the€legislature€further€amended€the€statute€and€deleted€anyÏmention€of€a€meeting:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà8 àòò(d)€Three€(3)€members€of€the€boardÏshall€constitute€a€quorum€for€theÏtransaction€of€official€business,€andÏno€person€shall€be€paroled€orÏdischarged€from€parole,€nor€theÏparole€of€any€person€revoked,€exceptÏby€majority€vote€of€the€entireÏmembership€of€the€board.óó€€TheÏchairman€of€the€board€may€designateÏits€members€to€sit€in€panels€of€twoÏ(2)€members€.€.€.€to€conduct€hearingsÏ.€.€.€and€make€proposed€findings€ofÏfact€and€recommendations€to€the€fullÏboard€.€.€.€.€Such€findings€andÏrecommendations€shall€be€reduced€toÏwriting€and€reviewed€by€the€fullÏboard€which€shall€adopt€or€reject€theÏpanelððs€findings€by€majority€vote.ÌÓÓÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€40„3602(d)€(Supp.€1981)(emphasis€added).€€In€1988,Ïthe€statute€was€amended€to€include€the€language€of€the€presentÏversion.€€òòSeeóó€Public€Act€of€1988,€Ch.€880,€ðð€3€(findings€andÏrecommendations€from€hearing€are€to€be€reviewed€by€ð ðother€boardÏmembersðð€and€a€decision€made€upon€the€ð ðconcurrenceðð€of€three€BoardÏmembers).× ƒ: ××  ×€€Finally,€in€1989,€the€statute€was€amended€to€provideÏthat€the€three€member€quorum€requirement€applied€only€to€ð ðofficialÏòòadministrativeóó€business.ðð€€òòSeeóó€Public€Acts€of€1989,€Ch.€227,€ðð€8Ï(emphasis€added).ÌÌà àIn€amending€this€statute€over€the€years,€the€legislatureÏhas,€in€our€view,€purposely€eliminated€language€that€required€theÏBoard€to€meet€in€order€to€make€parole€decisions.€€Further,€theseÏamendments€establish€that€the€Boardððs€practice€of€submitting€theÏhearing€officerððs€recommendations€in€writing€to€each€Board€memberÏindividually€is€consistent€with€the€legislative€intent,€for€we€mustÏassume€that€the€legislature€acted€with€full€cognizance€of€the€OpenÏMeetings€Act.ÌÌà àThe€petitioners€also€rely€on€the€Open€Parole€HearingsÏAct,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„28„501€òòet€seq.óó€(1996€Supp.)€as€supportÏfor€their€contention€that€the€Board€is€required€to€meet€andÏdeliberate€prior€to€making€a€parole€decision.€€However,€thisÏstatute€requires€that€parole€hearings€be€public.€€Tennessee€CodeÏAnnotated€ðð€40„28„105(b)€explicitly€differentiates€between€meetingsÏand€hearings;€we€›distinguish€ð ðœparole€decisionðð€from€ð ðparoleÏhearing.ðð€€Thus,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„28„502€does€not€apply€toÏparole€decisions.ÌÌà àIn€sum,€because€the€Boardððs€enabling€statute€does€notÏrequire€that€parole€decisions€be€made€by€meeting,€the€Open€MeetingsÏAct€does€not€apply€to€the€Boardððs€procedure€for€making€paroleÏdecisions.€€The€legislative€history€of€the€Boardððs€enabling€statuteÏillustrates€the€legislatureððs€intent€to€so€exempt€the€Boardððs€Ïdecision„making€process€from€the€Open€Meetings€Act.€€Therefore,€theÏBoardððs€procedure€of€separate€and€independent€review€of€cases€byÏBoard€members€neither€transgresses€the€intent€of€the€legislatureÏnor€offends€the€statute.€€€ÌÌÌÌà@ àIIIÌÌà àPetitioners€also€contend€that€the€Board€relied€uponÏcertain€ð ðillegal€and€unconstitutionalðð€factors€in€denying€parole,Ïspecifically,€the€seriousness€of€the€offense,€the€risk€to€re„offend,€the€number€of€victims,€completion€of€the€sex€offenderÏtreatment€program,× ƒ; ××  ×€and€continued€participation€in€AlcoholicsÏAnonymous.× ƒ< ××  ×€€ÌÌà àRelease€on€parole€is€a€privilege,€not€a€right.€€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€40„35„503(b)€(Supp.€1996).€€The€statute€expresslyÏrequires€the€Board€to€consider€the€seriousness€of€the€offense€andÏthe€inmateððs€risk€to€re„offend.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€€ðð€40„35„503(b)(1)Ïand€(2).€€Contrary€to€the€petitionersðð€contention,€consideration€ofÏthe€seriousness€of€the€offense€at€both€sentencing€and€parole€doesÏnot€violate€double€jeopardy€principles€because€denial€of€paroleÍdoes€not€constitute€ð ðanotherðð€punishment,€but€rather€perpetuates€aÏvalidly€imposed€sentence.€€òòSeeóó€òòKelly€v.€United€States€ParoleÏCommððnóó,€26€F.3d€1016,€1020€(10th€Cir.€1994);€òòAverhart€v.€Tutsieóó,Ï618€F.2d€479,€483€(7th€Cir.€1980).€€Further,€the€Board€is€notÏrequired€to€define€with€exactitude€the€weight€accorded€theÏseriousness€of€the€offense€in€denying€parole.€€òòSeeóó€òòGreenholtz€v.ÏInmates€of€the€Nebraska€Penal€and€Correctional€Complexóó,€442€U.S.€1,Ï99€S.€Ct.€2100,€2104,€60€L.€Ed.2d€668€(1979).€€Consideration€of€theÏnumber€of€victims€is€logically€related€to€the€seriousness€of€theÏoffense.€€ÌÌà àIn€our€view,€consideration€of€the€seriousness€of€theÏoffense,€the€number€of€victims,€and€the€risk€to€re„offend€isÏappropriate€to€the€parole€decision.€€Consideration€of€these€factorsÏdoes€not€demonstrate€that€the€Board€acted€illegally,€fraudulently,Ïarbitrarily,€or€in€excess€of€its€jurisdiction.€€Moreover,Ïconsideration€of€such€factors€does€not€implicate€any€constitutionalÏright€under€the€circumstances.ÌÌà àAs€stated,€Arnold€contends€that€the€Board€illegallyÏdenied€him€parole€because€he€had€not€completed€the€sex€offenderÍtreatment€program.× ƒ= ××  ×€€We€disagree.€€It€is€unclear€whether€Arnold€wasÏcommitted€to€custody€prior€to€the€institution€of€this€treatmentÏprogram.€€Even€assuming€he€was€committed€prior€to€the€establishmentÏof€the€program,€the€Board€is€still€permitted€to€recommend€theÏprogram€to€sex€offenders.€€Because€the€Board€also€properly€reliedÏupon€the€seriousness€of€the€offense€to€deny€Arnold€parole,€we€doÏnot€find€that€the€Boardððs€recommendation€that€he€continue€treatmentÏsupports€a€claim€that€the€Board€acted€illegally€or€arbitrarily€orÏin€excess€of€its€jurisdiction€in€denying€Arnold€parole.× ƒ> ××  ×ÌÌà àAs€stated,€Evans€contends€that€the€Board€acted€illegallyÏby€requiring€him€to€continue€his€participation€in€an€AlcoholicsÏAnonymous€(ð ðAAðð)€treatment€program.€€Specifically,€he€urges€thatÏthe€AA€program€is€a€religious€one€and€that€required€participationÍin€it€violates€the€Establishment€Clause€of€the€First€Amendment€toÏthe€United€States€Constitution.€€ÌÌà àIn€his€verified€petition,€Evans€states:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà8 àà àPetitioner€asserts€that€thereÏis€only€one€ð ðalcohol€programððÏavailable€to€him,€and€he€is€beingÏcoerced€to€participate€in€thatÏprogram,€as€a€condition€of€parole€.€.Ï.€.ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àThe€ð ðalcohol€programðð€isÏadministered€by€the€TennesseeÏDepartment€of€Correction€(TDOC),€butÏthe€requirement€[that]€he€continueÏ[to]€participate€in€the€program€as€aÏcondition€of€parole€originates€withÏthe€Board€of€Paroles.€.€.€.ÌÌà8 àà8 à.€.€.€.ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àThe€centerpiece€of€the€program,Ïas€petitioner€experiences€it,€is€theÏtwelve€(12)€steps€of€Alcoholic[s]ÏAnonymous€(AA)€program/effort.ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àThe€concept€of€a€higher€powerÏis€at€the€center€of€the€twelve€(12)Ïsteps.ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àThe€twelve€(12)€stepsÏexplicitly€deny€that€recovery€fromÏalcoholism€is€possible€withoutÏreliance€on€a€higher€power.ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àThe€emphasis€on€a€higher€powerÏis€also€the€central€theme€of€theÍthird€edition€of€AAððs€basic€textÏentitled€ð ðAlcoholics€Anonymousðð€whichÏis€used€as€an€all„purpose€guide€forÏanyone€having€difficulty€in€workingÏthe€twelve€(12)€steps.ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àGroup€prayer€is€common€at€theÏmeetings€attended€by€petitioner.€€TheÏmeetings€open€with€the€ð ðSerenityÏPrayer,ðð€essentially€non„denominational,€and€close€with€ð ðTheÏLordððs€Prayerðð,€a€Christian€prayer.ÌÓÓÌà àThe€First€Amendment€to€the€United€States€ConstitutionÏguarantees€that€ð ðgovernment€may€not€coerce€anyone€to€support€orÏparticipate€in€religion€or€its€exercise,€or€otherwise€act€in€a€wayÏwhich€ððestablishes€a€[state]€religion€or€religious€faith,€or€tendsÏto€do€so.ðððð€òòLee€v.€Weismanóó,€505€U.S.€577,€587,€112€S.€Ct.€2649,Ï2655,€120€L.€Ed.2d€467€(1992)(òòquotingóó€òòLynch€v.€Donnellyóó,€465€U.S.Ï668,€678,€104€S.€Ct.€1355,€1361„62,€79€L.€Ed.2d€604€(1984)).€€InÏòòEverson€v.€Board€of€Educ.óó,€the€Supreme€Court€held:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà8 à[t]he€ð ðestablishment€of€religionððÏclause€of€the€First€Amendment€meansÏat€least€this:€Neither€a€state€norÏthe€Federal€Government€can€set€up€aÏchurch.€€Neither€can€pass€laws€whichÏaid€one€religion,€aid€all€religions,Ïor€prefer€one€religion€over€another.€ÏNeither€can€force€nor€influence€aÏperson€to€go€to€or€to€remain€awayÏfrom€church€against€his€will€or€forceÏhim€to€profess€a€belief€or€disbeliefÍin€any€religion.€€No€person€can€beÏpunished€for€entertaining€orÏprofessing€religious€beliefs€orÏdisbeliefs,€for€church€attendance€orÏnonattendance.ÌÓÓÌòòEverson€v.€Board€of€Educ.óó,€330€U.S.€1,€15„16,€67€S.€Ct.€504,€511,Ï91€L.€Ed.2d€711€(1947).€€While€the€Supreme€Court€has€wrestled€withÏquestions€of€whether€a€certain€policy€or€practice€favors€orÏestablishes€a€religion,€there€is€no€debate€that€a€government€policyÏthat€requires€participation€in€a€religious€activity€violates€theÏEstablishment€Clause:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà8 àit€[is]€ð ðbeyond€disputeðð€that€theÏConstitution€guarantees€that€theÏgovernment€may€not€coerce€anyone€toÏsupport€or€participate€in€religion€orÏits€exercise.€€Individuals€mayÏdisagree€in€a€particular€case€overÏother€issues,€such€as€whether€it€isÏthe€state€who€acted,€or€whetherÏcoercion€is€present,€or€whetherÏreligion€or€something€else€is€the€aimÏof€the€coercion.€€But€in€general,€aÏcoercion„based€claim€indisputablyÏraises€an€Establishment€ClauseÏquestion.ÌÓÓÌòòKerr€v.€Farreyóó,€95€F.3d€472,€479€(7th€Cir.€1996)€(òòquotingóó€òòLee€v.ÏWeismanóó,€5€U.S.€at€587,€112€S.€Ct.€at€2655).€€In€òòKerróó,€the€SeventhÏCircuit€Court€of€Appeals€held€that€the€Establishment€Clause€wasÍviolated€by€a€requirement€that€an€inmate€observe€NarcoticsÏAnonymous€(ð ðNAðð)€meetings€(NA€and€AA€utilize€the€same€treatmentÏphilosophy€for€different€types€of€addictions).€€òòId.óó€at€480.€€OtherÏcourts€have€reached€like€conclusions.€€òòSeeóó€òòWarner€v.€Orange€CountyÏDept.€of€Probationóó,€827€F.€Supp.€261€(S.D.N.Y.€1993);€òòGriffin€v.ÏCoughlinóó,€673€N.E.2d€98€(N.Y.€1996).ÌÌà àWe€find€that€there€are€sufficient€reasons€other€than€theÏrequirement€of€continued€alcohol€treatment€to€justify€the€denial€ofÏparole€by€the€Board.€€However,€in€addition€to€his€claim€that€theÏBoard€illegally€denied€him€parole,€Evans€also€requested€prospectiveÏinjunctive€relief€to€ensure€that€future€parole€decisions€do€notÏconsider€an€inmateððs€participation€or€nonparticipation€in€the€AAÏprogram.€€In€this€regard,€Evans€has€stated€a€claim€upon€whichÏrelief€may€be€granted;€therefore,€the€trial€court€erred€inÏdismissing€the€petition€as€to€this€claim.ÌÌà àIf,€on€remand,€the€trial€court€finds€that€the€treatmentÏprogram€at€issue€is€a€religious€one€and€that€there€are€noÏalternative€secular€treatment€programs€offered,€then€to€require€aÏprisoner€to€attend€or€participate€in€such€a€treatment€program€wouldÍconstitute€a€violation€of€the€Establishment€Clause.€€€Attending€orÏfailing€to€attend€such€religious€meetings€can€not€be€considered€inÏa€decision€whether€to€grant€or€deny€parole.€ÌÌà àAccordingly,€we€reverse€the€judgment€of€the€Court€ofÏAppeals€as€to€Petitioner€Evansðð€claim€for€injunctive€relief€andÏremand€this€cause€to€the€trial€court€for€further€proceedingsÏconsistent€with€this€opinion.€€The€judgment€of€the€Court€of€AppealsÏas€to€Petitioner€Arnold€is€affirmed€in€all€respects.€€The€judgmentÏof€the€Court€of€Appeals€as€to€Petitioner€Evans€is€affirmed€in€partÏand€reversed€and€remanded€in€part.€€That€portion€of€the€costs€ofÏthis€cause€as€are€attributable€to€Petitioner€Arnold€are€taxed€toÏArnold.€€That€portion€of€the€costs€of€this€cause€as€areÏattributable€to€Evans€are€taxed€to€the€respondent.ÌÓÓÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÌà àà àà àà àADOLPHO€A.€BIRCH,€JR.,€JusticeÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌAnderson,€CJ.ÌDrowota,€Reid,€Holder,€JJ.