This is the Virgin Islands process for giving prisoners parole:

• Prisoner has served at least half his sentence and has been on good behavior for at least six months before parole hearing.
• Psychiatric evaluation is done on prisoners. Evaluator must give his OK.
• Corrections forwards prisoner's complete file to Parole Board.
• Parole Board interviews prisoner, reviews record and makes recommendation to governor.
• Governor has final say. He must act within 60 days or parole board's recommendations automatically go into effect.

Corrections Bureau acting Director Kurt Walcott says savvy prisoners have manipulated the system to gain early release.

"We have guys in here who are nothing but trouble, but for the six months leading up to their parole hearing, they are angels."

Sometimes, he says, the parole board buys their pitch.