The term mandatory supervision, sometimes referred to as “short-way,” is misleading. The phrase refers to a time prior to 1996 when offenders whose calendar time and good time was equal to their sentence would be released. During that time as long as the inmate qualified for mandatory supervision they were released. Today, mandatory supervision is discretionary. The board, just as in regular parole reviews, has complete discretion to release the inmate to supervision or deny it. They can deny release on mandatory supervision if they conclude that the good conduct time accrued by the inmate is not an accurate reflection of their rehabilitation and that releasing the inmate would endanger the public. Although the strong language regarding releasing inmates who qualify for mandatory supervision exists in the statute the language of the law is broad and for practical purposes gives parole board the same level of discretion they have in making any decision regarding whether or not to parole any Texas inmate. On short TDCJ sentences an inmate’s mandatory supervision date is often only a short time after their initial eligibility date. The inmates often time has taken time to enroll in classes that promote rehabilitation,such as (Bridges to life, Authentic manhood and Changes 3)we are asking the parole board to start back giving these inmates who have behaved and taken advantage of rehabilitation classes their mandatory supervision.