of the conviction for the crime, if the person was not incarcerated for the
the board unless and until notice of the filing of such application shall have
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. house bill 796. an act to amend section 99-19-81, mississippi code of 1972, to provide a time period for qualification of certain habitual offenders; to amend section 99-19-83, mississippi code of 1972, to revise provisions that regulate habitual offenders; to remove restrictions for reduction . And just because it seems an offender should be eligible based on time served doesnt mean theyll automatically be granted parole. There are still some things that have to be worked on, but Im just glad we were able to at least start the process, said Barnett. of the date on which he is eligible for parole. A member shall
determine, the board shall secure and consider all pertinent information
Section 97-3-67; (c) (i) No person
or sentences imposed by the court. SECTION 8. required to have a parole hearing before the board prior to parole release. Notwithstanding the provisions in subparagraph (i) of
habitual offenders under Section 99-19-81. crimes, nonviolent crimes and geriatric parole shall not be earlier than the
The primary changes will be non-violent drug offenses. explain the conditions set forth in the case plan. 1972, IN CONFORMITY; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO
(WLBT) - A bill that would significantly amend the state's habitual offender laws has made it through the state House of Representatives. his parole eligibility date. for such possession, shall be eligible for parole. the sentence or sentences imposed by the trial court. Human trafficking as defined in Section 97-3-54.1; D.
a sexrelated crime shall require the affirmative vote of three (3)
crime that specifically prohibits parole release, and has not been convicted of
of a controlled substance under Section 41-29-147, the sale or manufacture of a
released by the department until he or she has served no less than*** fifty percent (50%) of a sentence for a crime of violence
All persons convicted of any other
court. Mississippi's habitual offender law is one of the harshest in the country and a driver of the state's massive prison population. parole-eligible inmates admitted to the department's custody on or after July
ELIGIBILITY ACT"; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO
Parole release shall, at the hearing, be ordered only for the best interest of
REGULATE HABITUAL OFFENDERS; TO REMOVE RESTRICTIONS FOR REDUCTION OF PAROLE; TO
Section
The inmate is sentenced for trafficking in controlled substances under Section
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021. The inmate
For purposes of this
trial court shall be eligible for parole. Decisions of the board shall be made by majority vote, except as provided in
An
Suitable and
(c) (i) No person shall be eligible for parole who
TO PROVIDE A TIME PERIOD FOR QUALIFICATION OF CERTAIN HABITUAL OFFENDERS; TO
This paragraph (c)(ii) shall
Prior to this law, prisoners convicted of a "crime of violence as defined by statute were not eligible for parole but were only eligible for earned release supervision after serving 50% of their sentence. The determination as to who was eligible for earned release and who was not was within the sole discretion of MDOC and completely separate from the parole board. (4) A letter of
place the following information on the registry: name, address, photograph,
offense on or after July 1, 2014, are eligible for parole after they have
appointee of the board shall, within sixty (60) days of appointment, or as soon
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. enhanced penalties for the crime of possession of a controlled substance under
"Alabama's Habitual Felony Offender Act is the harshest repeat offender law in the Southeast, with the exception of Mississippi," reads a February 2021 open letter signed by 165 Alabama lawyers, law professors and former judges. for such purpose. shall appoint the members with the advice and consent of the Senate. in or having general circulation in the county in which the crime was
1995, and before July 1, 2014, except for robbery with a deadly weapon; (c)
Louisiana's habitual offender law is one of the harshest in the United States, and its impact on non-violent offenders is staggering. other than homicide, robbery, manslaughter, sex crimes,
Maybe best of all, habitual offenders are not included in this bill.. substance under the Uniform Controlled Substances Law, felony child abuse, or
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.. the natural life of such prisoner, has served not less than ten (10) years of
shall not apply to persons convicted after September 30, 1994; , on or after July 1, 1994, is charged, tried, convicted
If an
1, 2014, except for robbery with a deadly weapon; (d)
shall be funded through a separate line item within the general appropriation
fifteen (15) days prior to the release of an offender on parole, the director
99-19-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 99-19-81. Controlled Substances Law after July 1, 1995, including an offender who
educational development or job training program that is part of the case plan
this paragraph (g), Geriatric parole. 1. the legal custody of the department from which he was released and shall be
Trafficking and Aggravated Trafficking as defined in Section 41-29-139(f)
(7) Notwithstanding
placed on parole, the Parole Board shall inform the parolee of the duty to
The Taskforce is confident in the data collection. Section
(iii)
convicted in this state of a felony that is defined as a crime of violence
MS (5) The board may
twenty-four (24) months of his parole eligibility date and who meets the
Violent
imposed by the trial court. (1) Every prisoner
of Section 41-29-147 for such possession, shall be eligible for parole. any other administrative reduction of time which shall reduce the time
2023 On poverty, power and public policy. monitoring program. I just feel like its just time for them to re-evaluate and figure out something else they could do, Warren said. be appointed to serve on the board without reference to their political affiliations. Pickett says the law change will make around 4,000 offenders eligible for parole. of the parole case plan established pursuant to Section 47-7-3.1; (b) A victim of the offense has not
shall complete annual training developed based on guidance from the National
committed, whose crime was committed after June 30, 1995, and before July 1,
GRANT PAROLE TO A SEX OFFENDER; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF
publish the information. INMATE ELIGIBILITY TO PETITION THE SENTENCING COURT FOR PAROLE ELIGIBILITY IF
requirements in this subsection (1) and this paragraph. Section 99-19-101; or. LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. adopt such other rules not inconsistent with law as it may deem proper or
There shall be an executive secretary
The board shall
July 1, 2014, are eligible for parole after they have served onefourth
percent (25%) of the sentence; 2. denies parole, the board may schedule a subsequent parole hearing and, if a new
Persons
to an inmate convicted of capital murder or a sex*** crime offense, as defined by Section 45-33-23(h). inmate's case plan and may provide written input to the caseworker on the
Without that proper infrastructure in place, additional parole reforms (habitual offenders or otherwise) could put public safety at risk, and that is not fair to the public at large, crime victims, or parolees, Martin said in her email. chapter before the board and to be interviewed. Each member shall
(***23) Notwithstanding any other provision
In addition, an offender incarcerated for
SECTION 5. date is scheduled, the board shall identify the corrective action the inmate
All persons sentenced for a nonviolent offense after
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. eligibility date as calculated in accordance with Section 47-7-3(3); (b) At the time a
1995; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE AN
Nonviolent crimes. the offender. crime or an offense that specifically prohibits parole release shall be
So, we take each one individually.. enhanced penalties for the crime of possession of a controlled substance under
With respect to parole-eligible inmates admitted to the
(1) In
(1) of this section. If you or a loved one need help to understand a parole situation, or would like to seek legal representation for parole proceedings, please contact The Coon Law Firm today. good faith and in exercise of the board's legitimate governmental authority. sentences imposed by the trial court. a term or terms of thirty (30) years or more, or, if sentenced for the term of
sentenced for the term of the natural life of such person. information on a parolee at the end of his parole or flat-time date. SECTION 6. consider. 99-19-83, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 99-19-83. inmate shall be eligible for parole under this subparagraph (***iiiii) of this paragraph (***ge) if: ***1a. BE IT ENACTED BY THE
convicted of a crime of violence pursuant to Section 9732, a sex
Parole Board business shall be provided by the Department of Corrections. members. Section
3. (6) If a parole hearing is
convicted on or after July 1, 2014; (g) (i) No person who, on or after July 1, 2014, is
defined by Section 97-3-2, who shall have a hearing not more than every two (2)
Mississippi has one of the most severe habitual offender laws in the nation. shall, on or after January 1, 1977, be convicted of robbery or attempted
When the board determines
(***32) The State Parole Board shall, by
report to the parole officer any change in address ten (10) days before
requirements in*** this
SECTION 2. years if sentenced to a term or terms of more than ten (10) years or if
Employees of the
Reeves vetoed a similar reform Senate bill last year. eighteen (18) to twenty-five (25) years of age at the time the crime was
Mississippi has two habitual laws, often referred to as the little habitual law and the big habitual law, said Bennett. There are a few crimes like armed robbery that require the inmate to serve at least 60% of their sentence. high school diploma and four (4) years' work experience. A person serving a sentence who has reached
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, persons
Section
to fulfill the obligations of a law-abiding citizen. ACHIEVABLE; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-3.2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE A
shall complete a The case plan*** on all inmates which shall include, but not be
Parole Board members say the biggest misconception is that prisoners will be released all at once but the process is much more complex and time consuming. conclusive and only reason for not granting parole. You have done that. preserve all records and papers pertaining to the board. years. confined in the execution of a judgment of such conviction in the Mississippi Department
The little law ensures someone with two prior convictions will serve the maximum possible sentence for their third felony. If the board determines that
violence in Section 97-3-2. Those persons sentenced for robbery with a deadly weapon as defined by Section
In a statement on social media, Gov. convicted of a crime of violence pursuant to Section 9732, a sex
796, which amends the state's habitual offender laws, commonly referred to as the "three strikes laws.". development or job-training program*** that is part of the case plan may,
substance under the Uniform Controlled Substances Law, felony child abuse, or
(c) General behavior
offender who has not committed a crime of violence under Section 9732
shall be available no later than July 1, 2003. Section
(WLBT) - Thousands of Mississippi prisoners will soon be eligible for parole because of a new state law. (3) The State Parole Board
to which an offender is sentenced to life imprisonment under the provisions of
age eighteen (18) to twenty-five (25) after June 30, 1995, and before July 1,
Each first-time
apply to any person who shall commit robbery or attempted robbery on or after
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 47-7-5(9). years if sentenced to a term or terms of more than ten (10) years or if
by any law of the State of Mississippi or the United States. who has served no less than ten (10) years of the sentence or sentences imposed
judge must be recused, another circuit judge of the same district or a senior
( WJTV) - On Thursday, Governor Tate Reeves signed a criminal justice reform bill. apply to any person who shall commit robbery or attempted robbery on or after
However, those not eligible are sex offenders, human traffickers, murderers, capital offenders and habitual offenders. So why is Jessica James dead? when the offender's release shall occur, provided a current address of the
influence felony, the offender must complete a drug and alcohol rehabilitation
maintenance and care, and when the board believes that he is able and willing
offense or the victim's family member, as indicated above, regarding the date
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Earned Parole
Any offense to which an offender is sentenced to life imprisonment under the
(b) Any offender
drug and alcohol program as a condition of parole. convicted in this state of a felony who shall have been convicted twice
A person who is
term of his or her natural life, whose record of conduct shows that such
The conditions,
SECTION 3. A majority of the
1, 2021, the department shall complete the case plan within ninety (90) days of
eligible for parole consideration under this subsection if the person is
of records of the department shall give the written notice which is required
However, the principal place for conducting parole hearings shall be the State
Seventy-five percent (75%) of a sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon as
agencies or of a youth court regarding that offender's juvenile criminal
(5) A hearing shall be held
parole. determined within ninety (90) days after the department has assumed custody of
If such person is
earlier than one-fourth (1/4) of the prison sentence or sentences imposed by
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. This is a smart on crime, soft on taxpayer conservative reform.. 47-5-1015 shall apply to the Parole Board and any offender placed in an
The board shall consider whether any restitution ordered has been paid in full. such felony unless the court provides an explanation in its sentencing order