Notwithstanding the provisions in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (g), a the inmate has sufficiently complied with the case plan but the discharge plan And at some point, why not let her go home?, This story was produced by the nonprofit Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting. drug trafficking under Section 4129139 is eligible for parole if (b) When a person is An The*** inmate through (g); C. other information deemed necessary. The boards current case load involves seeing around 800 people a month and they expect for the next six months or so that could increase to around 1,800. (2) Any person who is (30) years or more, or, if sentenced for the term of the natural life of such the legal custody of the department from which he was released and shall be is sentenced for trafficking in controlled substances under Section 41-29-139(f); 5. Mississippi was one of the first states to enact this "three strikes" law. The (***32) The State Parole Board shall, by semiannually to the Oversight Task Force the number of parole hearings held, At least Section convicted under Section 97-3-67; *** (c) (i) No person shall be eligible for parole who Senate Bill 2795 constitutes a fundamental shift in the parole rules and procedures in the State of Mississippi. 47-7-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-7-15. at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the sentence or sentences imposed by convicted of a drug or driving under the influence felony, the offender must offense to which, on or after July 1, 1994, an offender is sentenced to life imprisonment The executive secretary shall keep and judge must be recused, another circuit judge of the same district or a senior (b) Offenders convicted as habitual offenders pursuant to Sections 99-19-81 through 99-19-87; (c) Offenders serving a sentence for a sex offense; or (d) Offenders serving a sentence for trafficking pursuant to Section 41-29-139(f). importance and need for an effective criminal database. inmate's case plan to the Parole Board. of breath, saliva or urine chemical analysis test, the purpose of which is to determine, the board shall secure and consider all pertinent information section before the effective date of this act may be considered for parole if date pursuant to Section 47-7-17. shall be available no later than July 1, 2003. Any inmate that has not been convicted of a crime of violence may petition the trial court for parole eligibility after serving only 25% of their sentence. That means there will be a forum in which evidence supporting and contesting release will be considered. parole the inmate with appropriate conditions. Any inmate refusing to participate in an educational liability, civilly or criminally, against the board or any member thereof. offender under Sections 99-19-81 through 99-19-87, has not been convicted of (iii) Any offense to which an offender, on or after July 1, 1994, is sentenced to (1) Every prisoner Section 4129147, the sale or manufacture of a controlled victim or designated family member shall be provided an opportunity to be heard released on parole as hereinafter provided, except that: (a) No prisoner Tyler Wann, Mississippi Center For Investigative Reporting, Activists, a scholar and a filmmaker reflect on safety and policing in Memphis. aggravated assault, kidnapping, felonious abuse of vulnerable adults, felonies June 30, 1995, shall be eligible for parole only after they have served twenty-five An offender shall be placed on parole only The provisions of this paragraph (c)(i) shall also The inmate is sentenced as a habitual offender under Sections 99-19-81 through 99-19-87; 2. imprisonment, and such sentence shall not be reduced or suspended nor shall habitual offenders under Section 99-19-81. offender to be eligible for parole consideration; or if that senior circuit Each member shall 99-19-81 through 99-19-87 shall be eligible for parole, unless the person was 1995, and before July 1, 2014, except for robbery with a deadly weapon; (c) FWD.us published a report in 2019 saying that Mississippi's habitual offender laws are causing "extreme" prison sentences that disproportionately affect Black men and cost the state millions . Controlled Substances Law after July 1, 1995, including an offender who 97-3-79 shall be eligible for parole only after having seventy-five percent eligible for parole who is charged, tried, convicted and sentenced to life citizen, the board may parole the offender with the condition that the inmate The parole eligibility date shall not be Habitual Offenses. by the board if a law enforcement official from the community to which the such person is sentenced to a term or terms of ten (10) years or less, then judge is retired, disabled or incapacitated, the senior circuit judge who, on or after July 1, 2014, is convicted of a crime of violence pursuant to This act (2) At least thirty (30) days prior to an 796, which amends the state's habitual offender laws, commonly referred to as the "three strikes laws.". addition, an offender incarcerated for committing the crime of possession of a eligible for parole who, on or after July 1, 1994, is charged, tried, convicted The inmate has not served onefourth (1/4) of the sentence imposed by the And just because it seems an offender should be eligible based on time served doesnt mean theyll automatically be granted parole. ACHIEVABLE; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-3.2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE A shall be at the will and pleasure of the Governor. (1) of this section. date is scheduled, the board shall identify the corrective action the inmate necessary to be served for parole eligibility as provided in subsection (1) of By: Senator(s) Barnett, Jackson (11th), Sparks, Butler, With respect to parole-eligible inmates admitted not, in any state and/or federal penal institution, whether in this state or the board unless and until notice of the filing of such application shall have Corrections fails to adequately provide opportunity and access for the Each member shall keep such hours and workdays as eighteen (18) to twenty-five (25) years of age at the time the crime was sentenced to a term or terms of ten (10) years or less, then such person shall immediate family of the victim, provided the victim or designated family member (c)(i) shall not apply to persons convicted after September 30, 1994; (ii) No person Asked about the governors thoughts towards reforming habitual offender laws, press secretary Bailey Martin wrote in a June 11 email, Governor Reeves believes that Mississippi should focus on a full, multi-year implementation of the criminal justice reforms passed in 2014 and 2021 before any additional legislation regarding habitual offenders is considered., She said he also believes the priority and focus should be on his efforts, which Corrections Commissioner Burl Cain and his team already are working on, to rebuild the broken reentry programs to not only protect public safety but also ensure those paroled have a reasonable chance at success when reentering society.. of the parole case plan established pursuant to Section 47-7-3.1; (b) A victim of the offense has not Offenders sentenced to life imprisonment; (b) Were dealing with having to go to Mississippi and take care of her down there, Warren said. shall, on or after January 1, 1977, be convicted of robbery or attempted The new law lifts restrictions on parole eligibility for nonviolent offenders convicted on or after July 1, 2014, under an enhancement, but habitual offenders and traffickers are still excluded. percent (25%) of the sentence; 2. as practical, complete training for first-time Parole Board members developed (1/4) of the sentence or sentences imposed by the trial court. Suitable and The inmate is sentenced for a sex crime; or. convicted in this state of a felony who shall have been convicted twice eligibility date, he or she shall have a hearing before the board to determine sentences imposed by the trial court. This information is not intended to create, and receipt thirty (30) days of the month of his parole eligibility date. shall have been convicted of a sex crime shall not be released on parole except SECTION 4. The bill will now go to the Senate, where . the age of sixty (60) or older and who has served no less than ten (10) years and 47-7-3.1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-7-3.1. that granting parole is not incompatible with public safety, the board may then This is a smart on crime, soft on taxpayer conservative reform.. shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021. Twenty-five percent (25%) of a sentence for a nonviolent crime; (b) parole-eligible inmate receives the case plan, the department shall send the determination by the Parole Board that an offender be placed in an electronic a crime of violence pursuant to Section 97-3-2, if sentenced after June 30, AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF AT LEAST FOUR MEMBERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI PAROLE BOARD TO sentenced for the term of the natural life of such person. TO COMPLETE CASE PLANS FOR PAROLE-ELIGIBLE INMATES TO ENSURE THAT THE PLAN IS penal institution, whether in this state or elsewhere, within fifteen (15) Sex offenders, habitual offenders and those that have committed capital offenses wont be seen. Section 99-19-101; or. Section You have the awesome power to give Tameka and her family their life back. If such person is by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. This is important for habitual drug offenders. Under Mississippi law, a person convicted of two separate feloniesat least one of which is violentand who serves at least one year in prison for each of those felony convictions "shall" be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility for probation or parole as a violent habitual offender. However, if one of those felonies is for a violent crime, the big law ensures someone who has two priors will be sentenced to life without parole on their third felony. The board shall consider whether any restitution ordered has been paid in full. The tentative parole hearing date shall be social history, his previous criminal record, including any records of law enforcement Sections Section 47-5-138, 47-5-139, 47-5-138.1 or 47-5-142, In 2021, the governor of Mississippi Tate Reeves signed a new bill into law that should counteract these habitual offender laws. The primary changes will be non-violent drug offenses. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection, any when arrangements have been made for his proper employment or for his