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Panel Attorney Guide and Expectations

Panel Attorney Program Guide (PDF version) – Revised August 22, 2024

Purpose The purpose of the panel attorney program is to comply with California Code of Regulations Title 15, section 2256, which requires the Board of Parole Hearings (Board) to provide incarcerated persons with attorney representation at state expense if they cannot afford to retain a private attorney for a hearing before the Board.
 
Panel attorneys serve at the discretion of the Board; they are not employees of the Board.
 
Upon approval as an active attorney by the Board, panel attorneys shall provide competent and professional legal services to their client. The panel attorney program is designed to provide, on average, up to 11 clients who will be scheduled for a parole hearing during a one-week period.
Attorney
Panels 		The Board has grouped the 33 existing adult prisons located throughout California, including incarcerated persons assigned to the Sacramento Control Office (SACCO), into 16 attorney panels based on their geographic proximity (i.e., the prisons in each panel are generally within a one-hour drive of each other). The 16 attorney panels are identified on pages 10 and 11.
 
Within each panel, two lists of attorneys will be maintained by the Board – a list of “active” attorneys and a list of “standby” attorneys. The active attorney list is for attorneys who are currently being assigned clients. The standby list is for attorneys who have applied to be on the active attorney list and who meet the minimum qualifications of a standby panel attorney, but who are not currently being assigned clients because the panel is full. There may be instances where a standby attorney is offered an assignment on that panel.
 
The Board shall periodically re-calculate the number of active attorneys needed for the panels based on the average number of hearings scheduled for each panel. The Board will adjust the number of active attorneys for each panel accordingly. If the average number of scheduled hearings decreases such that fewer active attorneys are needed for a particular panel, an active attorney will be moved to the standby list. If additional panel attorneys are needed, an attorney from the standby list will be moved to the active list.
 
Attorneys may apply for as many panels as they choose but will only be approved to serve on one active panel at a time, with some limited exceptions at the discretion of the Board. An attorney may at any time request to be removed or added to another panel by writing the Board. An attorney on a standby list may at any time be moved to the active list.
Active
Panel
Attorney
Minimum
Qualifications 		Active attorneys must meet the following minimum qualifications at all times:
 
A1. Maintain a current and active license to practice law in California;
A2. Be in good standing with the California State Bar, including compliance with Rule 9.9.5 of the California Rules of Court;
A3. Maintain malpractice insurance;
A4. Have documentation of a symptom-free tuberculin skin test and evaluation within the past year;
A5. Be able to pass the security screening necessary for entrance into each of the prisons on the attorney’s panel;
A6. Meet the dress code requirements for entrance into each prison during every visit;
A7. Sign and submit the Panel Attorney Information and Certification Form annually (see page 12);
A8. Open and maintain an account with the Board’s Disability and Effective Communication System (DECS). DECS is a comprehensive repository of information related to each incarcerated person’s disabilities and effective communication needs;
A9. Acquire and maintain (at the attorney’s expense) all hardware/software necessary to access DECS;
A10. Acquire and maintain (at the attorney’s expense) webcam capabilities for video visits/hearings;
A11. Open and maintain a Blackberry Workspaces (previously known as “WatchDox”) account (or equivalent secure, file-sharing software used by the Board) by registering an email address for access to electronic hearing files; panel attorneys are to provide (at their own expense) all hardware/software necessary to maintain access to the secure, file-sharing software used by the Board, and
A12. Have recent experience representing incarcerated persons in the parole suitability hearing process or have observed at least three (3) parole hearings before accepting an assignment to represent clients as an active panel attorney.
Standby
Panel
Attorney
Minimum
Qualifications 		Standby attorneys must meet the following minimum qualifications at all times:
 
B1.    Maintain a current and active license to practice law in California; and
B2.    Be in good standing with the California State Bar, including compliance with Rule 9.9.5 of the California Rules of Court.
 
Standby attorneys who are approved to move to an active panel attorney list will have one month to demonstrate compliance with the active panel attorney minimum qualifications listed above and complete the required training.
Panel
Attorney
Training
Requirements 		C1. In addition to the minimum qualifications for active attorneys listed above, active panel attorneys must complete all required training session(s) conducted by the Board or the Board’s designee.
Panel Attorney ExpectationsThe following are minimum expectations for adequately representing a client as an active panel attorney:
D1. The panel attorney is required to conduct a minimum of three (3) legal visits with their client prior to their scheduled parole hearing date,1 and comply with the timing requirements listed below. The panel attorney should make every effort to conduct the first or second legal visit in person, and any other visit(s) may be conducted in person, via confidential legal telephone call, or via confidential videoconference. The Board will make a client’s central file available to the panel attorney at the time of case assignment, so the panel attorney has access prior to any and all client meetings;
D2. The panel attorney shall review their client’s central file and have an initial legal visit with their client within 30 calendar days of accepting the case; the average length of the initial legal visit shall be one to two hours. If the client is expected to receive a Comprehensive Risk Assessment (CRA) prior to their scheduled hearing, the attorney shall prepare their client for the CRA interview by explaining what a CRA is, its purpose, its importance, and how it is used in the parole hearing process; explaining the process, how the interview will be conducted, and topics that will likely be covered; discussing any prior risk assessments or psychological evaluations; and preparing the client to address potential topics of discussion during the interview;
D3. The panel attorney shall conduct a second legal visit with each client either
(1) at least 60 days prior to the client’s scheduled hearing date, or (2) within two weeks of the CRA being finalized under section 2240 of title 15 of the California Code of Regulations, whichever date is later; the average length of the second legal visit shall be one to two hours;
D4. The panel attorney shall have a third legal visit with their client prior to the scheduled hearing date; the length of this legal visit and the timing of the visit shall be at the panel attorney’s discretion;
D5. In the unusual event that a panel attorney is assigned a case less than 60 days before the hearing, the panel attorney shall review the client’s central file and conduct at least one legal visit before the date of the hearing;
D6. If the client/attorney submit a pre-hearing action to the Board, the panel attorney is required to meet with their client at least once prior to the pre- hearing action submission and review their client’s central file;
D7. Panel attorneys must accommodate a client with a disability affecting communication to ensure the client is able to participate in any parole proceeding to the best of their abilities. Relevant disabilities include physical disabilities (such as vision and hearing disabilities), developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, and mental health needs. Time spent accommodating a client’s disability shall not replace, but shall be in addition to, time the attorney would have otherwise spent on their representation of the client. Consistent with the panel attorney’s professional and ethical responsibilities to their client, the attorney may need to conduct additional legal visits with the client, longer legal visits with the client, spend time reading parole-related documents with or to the client, and spend time putting into writing parole-related material for the client, as described in D16. The panel attorney shall attest on the Panel Attorney Invoice this provision was satisfied for applicable cases;
D8. Additional expectations and requirements apply for clients identified in DECS as DNV (vision disability, not impacting placement), as described in the Addendum on Representing DNV Clients;
D9. Additional expectations and requirements apply for clients identified in DECS as DPV (vision disability, impacting placement) or DPH (hearing disability, impacting placement), as described in the Addendum on Representing DPV or DPH Clients;
D10. The panel attorney must be familiar with each client’s rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and their needs for reasonable accommodations under the ADA in DECS in advance of each legal visit;
D11. Panel attorneys shall timely enter Source Documents with detailed notes of the client’s ADA accommodation needs and use of accommodations to achieve effective communication. These documents are required to be uploaded into DECS no later than one week following any meeting with a client and prior to the date of the hearing.
D12. If the panel attorney’s client is identified in DECS as needing a sign language interpreter, the panel attorney shall use a sign language interpreter when communicating with the client during all legal visits and at the hearing; the panel attorney shall notify the Scheduling Unit at BPHLiferAnalyst@cdcr.ca.gov to make arrangements to secure a sign language interpreter if their client is in need of a sign language interpreter as soon as possible to arrange for an interpreter at all legal visits;
D13. If the panel attorney’s client needs a live caption to provide real-time captioning to achieve effective communication, the panel attorney shall notify the Scheduling Unit at BPHLiferAnalyst@cdcr.ca.gov as soon as possible to make arrangements to secure a caption for legal visits;
D14. The panel attorney shall use the Board’s telephonic foreign language interpreter service to communicate with a client during all legal visits when needed to establish effective communication;
D15. The panel attorney shall not rely on written communications with a client (a) who is under CDCR’s Developmental Disability Program with a designation in DECS as DD1, DD2, or DD3, (b) under CDCR’s Mental Health Services Delivery System at the Enhanced Outpatient Program, Mental Health Crisis Bed, or Intermediate Care Facility level of care; (c) in a licensed Psychiatric Inpatient Program under the care of CDCR or the Department of State Hospitals; (d) designated as having a learning disability or vision impairment in DECS; or (e) has a reading score of 4.0 or lower;
D16. Consistent with the panel attorney’s professional and ethical responsibilities to their client, the panel attorney shall assist their client in submitting written documents for a parole hearing and developing release plans if, as a result of a disability, the client is unable to do these tasks on their own or would have difficulty doing so. Depending on the client’s disability, and with the client’s approval, this may include, but is not necessarily limited to, soliciting family and friends for offers of support on behalf of the client and transcribing an apology or victim impact letter. This may also involve transcribing a client’s relapse prevention plan for them. Further, this may include putting into writing sources and offers of support in the community identified by the client and plans for housing and employment or financial support  identified
by  the  client.  Relevant  disabilities  may  include  physical  disabilities, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, and mental health needs.
D17. The panel attorney shall raise appropriate and timely objections through the BPH ADA Compliance Unit prior to a hearing or to the hearing panel at the time of the hearing regarding the client’s need for reasonable accommodation under the ADA; the panel attorney shall submit a timely grievance to the Board if the attorney believes the client did not receive reasonable accommodation as required under the ADA during the client’s hearing;
D18. If the panel attorney encounters logistical problems meeting and communicating with a client or obtaining access to relevant documents, including the CRA, the panel attorney shall immediately notify Board staff at BPHLiferAnalyst@cdcr.ca.gov and shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve the problem in advance of the hearing;
D19. The panel attorney shall physically appear in person with their client for all scheduled hearings unless any of the exceptions in D20 apply, and arrive a minimum of 30 minutes to one (1) hour prior to the hearing, allow sufficient time for parking, entry into the institution, walking to the hearing room; and, making prearrangements with the institution to meet with your client prior to the start time of the hearing; this provision does not apply if the panel attorney’s client knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waives the physical appearance of the panel attorney;
D20. For all hearings, the panel attorney is required to be physically present with the incarcerated person at the institution unless any of the following apply:
the incarcerated person waives physical presence of the attorney, (2) the incarcerated person waives their own right to attend the hearing, (3) the incarcerated person refuses to attend the hearing, or (4) circumstances beyond the control of the incarcerated person’s attorney. Panel attorneys must be physically present with their client for in-person hearings. Per the Armstrong Remedial Plan II, the following incarcerated persons cannot waive the physical presence of their attorney:
All incarcerated persons presently receiving treatment at CDCR’s Mental Health Services Delivery System at the Enhanced Outpatient Program, Mental Health Crisis Bed, Intermediate Care Facility, or Acute Care Facility levels of care;
All incarcerated persons identified by CDCR as part of the department’s Developmental Disability Program; and
All incarcerated persons with a learning disability, including incarcerated persons with a reading score of 4.0 or below.
D21. The Board shall determine whether a proceeding is conducted in person or by video conference. (Cal. Code of Regs, tit. 15, §§ 2050-2064.) For hearings that the Board has pre-determined to require an in-person hearing under section 2054, the panel attorney, acting on behalf of the incarcerated person, may submit a written request for a videoconference hearing at least 100 days prior to the hearing. The request shall explain why an in-person hearing is not necessary and affirm that, to the best knowledge of the panel attorney, an in-person proceeding is not necessary for the hearing officers to  establish  effective communication with  the  incarcerated  person. (Cal.
Code of Regs, tit. 15, § 2055.) If the Board approves the request, the hearing will be conducted by videoconference, and no participants will attend the hearing in person with the hearing panel. The panel attorney is still required to be physically present with the incarcerated individual at the institution for the hearing unless any of the exceptions in D20 apply;
D22. The panel attorney shall remain available for the entire hearing day;
D23. If there is an emergency that delays or prevents a panel attorney from appearing timely for a hearing, the panel attorney shall immediately notify Board staff via email at BPHLiferAnalyst@cdcr.ca.gov or by phone at (916) 445-4072;
D24. The panel attorney shall have valid state or federal government-issued identification and a current California State Bar card upon arrival to the institution; if the panel attorney experiences problems entering an institution on the day of a hearing, the attorney shall immediately notify Board staff via email at BPHLiferAnalyst@cdcr.ca.gov or by phone at (916) 445-4072;
D25. The panel attorney may be assigned a client currently housed outside a CDCR institution (example: county jail, medical or out-of-state facility, etc.), but scheduled for a parole hearing. The panel attorney is required to contact the client and provide the client information regarding the parole hearing process and options for moving forward with the scheduled hearing. The Board may ask the panel attorney for an attestation of such communication for invoicing confirmation.
D26. If, after the client’s scheduled hearing, the client’s case is referred for en banc review by the full Board at a monthly Executive Board Meeting, the panel attorney shall provide a written or oral statement on behalf of their client at such proceedings, including appearance at those proceedings, whether in person or via telephone or videoconference.
Additional Panel Attorney ExpectationsThe following are additional expectations for panel attorneys:
 
E1. The panel attorney shall behave in a competent and professional manner at all times with Board staff, institution staff, and all hearing participants;
E2. The panel attorney shall wear professional attire at parole hearings;
E3. The email address listed on the Panel Attorney Information and Certification Form (page 12) is the email of record for the attorney that will be used for all written communications from the Board, including panel and client assignments. It is the panel attorney’s responsibility to notify the Board of a change in the panel attorney’s email address;
E4. The panel attorney shall respond to an offer of a panel assignment from the Board within three (3) business days; if the panel attorney declines the assignment or fails to respond within three (3) business days, the Board will consider it a request for a voluntary suspension (see below).
E5. The panel attorney shall cooperate with the Board or its designee to verify compliance with panel attorney minimum qualifications, expectations, and training requirements;
E6. The panel attorney shall not permit another attorney, including other panel attorneys, to represent a client assigned by the Board to the panel attorney;
E7. The panel attorney shall promptly notify the Board if the panel attorney is arrested, charged, or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in any jurisdiction, or a change in active status with California State Bar occurs;
E8. The panel attorney shall submit invoices as required for all clients assigned by the Board.
Confidentiality AgreementA panel attorney is legally and ethically bound to use the information contained in
any documents provided by the Board for the sole purpose of representing their client through the parole suitability hearing process. A panel attorney is prohibited from distributing the documents or disclosing their contents to anyone who is not directly involved in representing the panel attorney’s client in the parole suitability hearing process. Failure to protect the confidentiality of documents received from the Board will result in the panel attorney being referred to the Executive Officer to determine whether the panel attorney will continue to be assigned cases as an active panel attorney.
Referrals to Executive OfficerFailure to meet any of the minimum panel
attorney qualifications, expectations, or training requirements shall result in referral to the
Executive Officer to determine whether the panel attorney will continue to be
assigned cases.

The Board and/or its designee may collect data concerning the outcome of scheduled hearings, use surveys, interview incarcerated persons and others, observe hearings, and review hearing transcripts to determine the level and quality of representation provided by a panel attorney.

A panel attorney who is (a) referred to the California State Bar for alleged misconduct by any state or federal judge or the Board’s Chief Counsel, or (b) arrested, charged, or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony shall be referred
to the Executive Officer to determine whether the panel attorney will continue 
to be assigned cases.
Voluntary Suspension A voluntary suspension is a request by an active panel attorney to not be assigned
cases for a period of one (1) to four (4) weeks. A panel attorney may request a voluntary suspension no more than three (3) times during a calendar year (January
1 through December 31). Requests for a voluntary suspension from a panel attorney must be submitted in writing, and include a specific start and end date. In addition, if a panel attorney declines the assignment of a panel or fails to respond within three (3) business days to a panel assignment, the Board will consider it a request for a one-week voluntary suspension (see E4 above).
PaymentAll panel attorney payments must be requested using the Board’s Panel Attorney Invoice, available on the Board’s website at https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/bph/attorney-overview/ (see BPH form 1076), unless requesting payment for representing a DNV, DPV, or DPH client, which requires submission of the Panel Attorney Invoice for DNV, DPV, or DPH Clients (see BPH form 1076(A) – DNV/DPV/DPH). Please see Payment section of Addendum on Representing DNV Clients, or Addendum on Representing DPV or DPH Clients, for information specific to payment for representation of DNV, DPV, or DPH clients, as applicable.

Panel attorneys shall scan and submit one invoice per assigned client via email to BPHAccountingLiaison@cdcr.ca.gov.

Incomplete or disputed invoices will prompt communication from Accounting to resolve the invoice issue and may delay payment processing.

Panel attorneys shall certify the services they rendered to each assigned client by placing their initials next to the appropriate “Description of Services Performed.” Panel attorneys shall also identify dates of completion and duration of interviews.

Panel attorneys will be paid a flat rate of $1,005 for each client assigned by the Board and accepted by the panel attorney on or after July 1, 2024, whose case they complete. For all hearings assigned by the Board and accepted by the panel attorney prior to or on June 30, 2024, panel attorneys will be paid a flat rate of $945 for each client assigned to them whose case they complete.

A case is completed when a scheduled hearing results in a waiver, stipulation, postponement, continuance, grant of parole, or denial of parole, and, when necessary, the full Board reviews the case en banc at a monthly executive Board meeting, if applicable.

If the client submits a pre-hearing action and the Board approves it, in order for the panel attorney to receive full payment, they must attest they met with their client at least once prior to the pre-hearing action and reviewed their client’s central file.

Panel attorneys who are unable to represent their assigned client through completion of the case may receive a pro-rated fee for services at the discretion of the Executive Officer or designee. The pro-rated amounts are as such:
• $25 for Assignment
• $175 for Central-File Review
 
Panel attorneys who are assigned a client solely for the purpose of representing them for en banc review by the full Board at a monthly executive board meeting will receive a pro-rated fee of $300 to provide a written or oral statement on behalf of the client at the meeting, as described in D26.
 
Invoices shall not be submitted until the client’s case is completed.
 
In order to ensure timely payment, invoices shall be submitted within 30 days of completing all hearing-related work for a client. Invoices are processed for payment by the State within 45 days from the date the invoice is received provided the invoice is undisputed.
Panel Listing with CitiesPanel #1
• Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP): Crescent City, CA
Panel #2
• High Desert State Prison (HDSP): Susanville, CA
Panel #3
• California Medical Facility (CMF): Vacaville, CA
• California State Prison, Solano (SOL): Vacaville, CA
Panel #4
• San Quentin State Prison (SQ): San Quentin, CA
Panel #5
• Folsom State Prison (FSP): Represa, CA
• California State Prison, Sacramento (SAC): Represa, CA
• Mule Creek State Prison (MCSP): Ione, CA
• Sacramento Central Office (SACCO): Rancho Cordova, CA
Panel #6
• California Health Care Facility (CHCF): Stockton, CA
• Sierra Conservation Center (SCC): Jamestown, CA
Panel #7
• Valley State Prison (VSP): Chowchilla, CA
• Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF): Chowchilla, CA
Panel #8
• Correctional Training Facility (CTF): Soledad, CA
• Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP): Soledad, CA
Panel #9
• Avenal State Prison (ASP): Avenal, CA
• California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF): Corcoran, CA
• California State Prison, Corcoran (COR): Corcoran, CA
• Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP): Coalinga, CA
Panel #10
• North Kern State Prison (NKSP): Delano, CA
• Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP): Delano, CA
• Wasco State Prison (WSP): Wasco, CA
• California Correctional Institution (CCI): Tehachapi, CA
Panel #11
• California Men’s Colony (CMC): San Luis Obispo, CA
Panel #12
• California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC): Lancaster, CA
Panel #13
• California Institution for Men (CIM): Chino, CA
• California Institution for Women (CIW): Corona, CA
• California Rehabilitation Center (CRC): Norco, CA
Panel #14
• Ironwood State Prison (ISP): Blythe, CA
• Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP): Blythe, CA
Panel #15
• Calipatria State Prison (CAL): Calipatria, CA
• California State Prison, Centinela (CEN): Imperial, CA
Panel #16
• Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD): San Diego, CA
Additional Panel Attorney Expectations This Addendum applies to representation of a client who is identified in DECS as DNV (vision disability, not impacting placement) and is not also DPH (hearing disability, impacting placement). If a client is identified in DECS as DPH, then the Addendum on Representing DPV or DPH Clients applies instead.
 
On July 31, 2024, as part of the Armstrong v. Newsom class action lawsuit, the United States District Court, Northern District of California issued an Order Sustaining in Part Objections to Further Parole-Related Remedial Plan, which is attached to the Panel Attorney Program Guide for the Parole Suitability Hearing Process (Guide). (Armstrong v. Newsom (N.D. Cal. July 31, 2024) No. 94-cv- 02307-CW, Doc. 3600.) The order included the following additional expectations for adequately representing a client with a vision disability who is identified in DECS as DNV (vision disability, not impacting placement) (see the list of DECS codes and meanings attached to the Guide):
 
1. The panel attorney must spend significantly more time on their representation of a client identified in DECS as DNV than is required under the Guide for a client without a disability affecting communication, consistent with their professional and ethical duties; the panel attorney may need to spend additional time accommodating their client as outlined in D7 of the Guide; the panel attorney shall attest on the Panel Attorney Invoice for DNV, DPV, or DPH Clients this provision was satisfied;
2. The panel attorney must conduct an additional legal visit with a client identified in DECS as DNV prior to their scheduled parole hearing date than is required under the Guide for a client not identified as DNV, DPV (vision disability, impacting placement), or DPH; the Panel Attorney Invoice for DNV, DPV, or DPH Clients must indicate that the panel attorney conducted, or made reasonable attempts to conduct, at least four (4) legal visits with their client who was identified in DECS as DNV;
3. The panel attorney must allow additional time, as needed, to explain and repeat explanations of documents for a client identified in DECS as DNV.
Payment All panel attorney payments for representation of DNV clients must be requested using the Board’s Panel Attorney Invoice for DNV, DPV, or DPH Clients, available on the Board’s website at https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/bph/attorney-overview/ (see BPH form 1076(A) – DNV/DPV/DPH). Panel attorneys shall scan and submit one invoice per assigned client via email to BPHAccountingLiaison@cdcr.ca.gov. The invoice should indicate the attorney is requesting payment for representation of a DNV client, who is not also DPH.
 
Panel attorneys will be paid a flat rate of $1,205 for each client identified in DECS as DNV (who is not also DPH) who is assigned by the Board and accepted by the panel attorney on or after July 1, 2024, whose case they complete. For all hearings assigned by the Board and accepted by the panel attorney prior to or on June 30, 2024, panel attorneys will be paid a flat rate of $945 for each client assigned to them whose case they complete.
 
All other provisions of the Payment section in the Guide that are not in conflict with the above provisions apply.
Additional Panel
Attorney
Expectations
Addendum on Representing DPV or DPH Clients		On March 20, 2024, as part of the Armstrong v. Newsom class action lawsuit, the United States District Court, Northern District of California issued an Order for Further Parole-Related Remedial Plan, which is attached to the Panel Attorney Program Guide for the Parole Suitability Hearing Process (Guide). (Armstrong v. Newsom (N.D. Cal. March 20, 2024) No. 94-cv-02307-CW, Doc. 3584.) The order included the following additional expectations for adequately representing a client with a vision disability who is identified in DECS as DPV (vision disability, impacting placement) or a hearing disability who is identified in DECS as DPH (hearing disability, impacting placement) (see the list of DECS codes and meanings attached to the Guide):
 
1. The panel attorney must spend significantly more time on their representation of a client identified in DECS as DPV or DPH than is required under the Guide for a client without a disability affecting communication, consistent with their professional and ethical duties; the panel attorney may need to spend additional time accommodating their client as outlined in D7 of the Guide; the panel attorney shall attest on the Panel Attorney Invoice for DNV, DPV, or DPH Clients this provision was satisfied;
2. The panel attorney must conduct additional legal visits with a client identified in DECS as DPV or DPH prior to their scheduled parole hearing date than is required under the Guide for a client not identified as DNV (vision disability, not impacting placement), DPV, or DPH; the Panel Attorney Invoice for DNV, DPV, or DPH Clients must indicate that the panel attorney conducted, or made reasonable attempts to so conduct, at least four (4) legal visits with their client who was identified in DECS as DPV or DPH;
3. The panel attorney must allow twice as much time for legal visits, compared to legal visits with other clients, with a client identified in DECS as DPH if they use sign language as a primary method of communication, and a sign language interpreter is necessary for effective communication between the attorney and the client; this allows extra time for the translation process; the panel attorney shall attest on the Panel Attorney Invoice for DNV, DPV, or DPH Clients this provision was satisfied for applicable cases;
4. The panel attorney must use a sign language interpreter to ensure effective communication of written material, such as hearing transcripts and Comprehensive Risk Assessments, to a client identified in DECS as DPH and who uses sign language as a primary method of communication, if a sign language interpreter is necessary for effective communication between the attorney and the client;
5. The panel attorney must allow additional time to explain and repeat explanations of documents for a client 1) identified in DECS as DPV, or 2) identified in DECS as DPH who uses sign language as a primary method of communication.
Payment All panel attorney payments for representation of DPV or DPH clients must be requested using the Board’s Panel Attorney Invoice for DNV, DPV, or DPH Clients, available on the Board’s website at https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/bph/attorney-overview/ (see BPH form 1076(A) – DNV/DPV/DPH). Panel attorneys shall scan and submit one invoice per assigned client via email to BPHAccountingLiaison@cdcr.ca.gov. The invoice should indicate the attorney is requesting payment for representation of a DPV or DPH client.
 
Panel attorneys will be paid a flat rate of $2,010 for each client identified in DECS as DPV or DPH who is assigned by the Board and accepted by the panel attorney on or after July 1, 2024, whose case they complete. For all hearings assigned by the Board and accepted by the panel attorney prior to or on June 30, 2024, panel attorneys will be paid a flat rate of $945 for each client assigned to them whose case they complete.
 
All other provisions of the Payment section in the Guide that are not in conflict with the above provisions apply.
Application process for new attorneys as of August 22, 2024

Mail or email to the following contact:

Board of Parole Hearings
Attn: Scheduling Unit: Panel Attorney Appointments
P.O. Box 4036
Sacramento, CA 95812-4036