RALEIGH – The N.C. Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission announced today that it has denied parole for Cassie Scott Johnson, the woman convicted of killing a Raleigh police officer in 1980.

The Commission reached its decision today after reviewing the facts in Johnson’s case. Johnson, 50, is currently being held at a halfway house for women in Charlotte. She was convicted for the Feb. 1, 1980 murder of Raleigh Police Officer D.D. "Jimmy" Adams.

Johnson will be considered for parole again on or around Aug. 18, 2001; the Commission is required to review the cases of eligible offenders at least annually. Parole commissioners vote independently via an electronic system. A parole decision requires a majority vote of the three-person commission.

The Commission does not publicly provide reasons for denying an offender’s parole. However, an offender is provided one or more of the reasons of parole denial provided in N.C. General Statutes. Those reasons are: there is a substantial risk that the offender will not conform to reasonable conditions of parole; release at this time would unduly depreciate the seriousness of the crime or promote disrespect for the law; the offender’s continued correctional treatment, medical care, or vocational or other training will substantially enhance the offender’s capacity to lead a law-abiding life if released at a later date; and there is a substantial risk that the offender will engage in further criminal conduct.

Parole was eliminated under the Structured Sentencing Act, which applies to crimes committed on or after Oct. 1, 1994. However, the Commission retains authority to parole offenders who may be eligible for discretionary release under prior sentencing laws.

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