McVay Complied With Rules When Behind Bars

SIOUX FALLS, SD - The former South Dakota State Penitentiary inmate who said he was prepared to go on a cross-country killing spree to assassinate President Barack Obama was 'compliant' in prison.

James McVay may have had plans to go on a ruthless killing spree across the country, but according to the Department of Corrections he was on his best behavior inside prison walls.

McVay complied with all the rules of the Individual Program Directive, or IPD, when he was behind bars.

The behavior of every inmate is tracked with an IPD during their time in the penitentiary. Every inmate has to follow the first three elements of the IPD which is to comply with all the rules of the Department of Corrections and the institution where they are incarcerated.

Inmates also have to work diligently and to the best of their ability in any job they are assigned inside prison walls. And finally the inmate needs to show no behavior or intent to re-offend, that includes letters, statements, or any disruptive behavior.

When an inmate has only two years left before their parole date, the report is reviewed every six months. And then 45 days before an inmate is scheduled to be out on parole a full report is sent to the warden.

If an inmate is listed as 'compliant' with all of the requirements they are automatically released on their parole date. If they aren't compliant they have to go in front of the Board of Pardons and Paroles for a hearing to see if they can be released on parole.

And in McVay's case he was compliant and released on Thursday.

But instead of just releasing McVay on parole last week the Department of Corrections moved him to a minimum security unit to take part in the Community Transition Program that gives parolees a place to live while they get back into society.

When he didn't return to the program on Friday, officials called law enforcement and asked for their help locating McVay.