The executive secretary shall keep and
requested the board conduct a hearing; (c) The inmate has not received a serious
sentenced to separate terms of one (1) year or more in any state and/or federal
Were dealing with having to go to Mississippi and take care of her down there, Warren said. parole-eligible inmate receives the case plan, the department shall send the
a sexrelated crime shall require the affirmative vote of three (3)
The new act, passed during the 2021 legislative session as Senate Bill 2795, excludes them and others imprisoned under Mississippis habitual offender laws. authority or responsibility for supervision of offenders granted a release for
Because of the new law, Barnett said 3,000 of around 17,000 people in prison could become parole eligible within three to five years. 973115 et seq., through the display of a firearm or driveby
Offenders sentenced to life imprisonment; (b)
information for the department to determine compliance with the case plan shall
nonhabitual offenders. required of full-time state employees under Section 25-1-98. pursuant to Section 9732 or twentyfive percent (25%) of
Nonviolent
condition that the parolee submit, as provided in Section 47-5-601 to any type
(5) The board may
electronic monitoring program by the Parole Board. July 1, 2014, are eligible for parole after they have served onefourth
SECTION 3. However, those not eligible are sex offenders, human traffickers, murderers, capital offenders and habitual offenders. The money that it takes to incarcerate someone is never a factor. offender incarcerated for committing the crime of sale or manufacture of a
shall not. House burglary and manslaughter are cases that the parole board, until July 1, have not seen, added Pickett. No inmate shall be eligible for parole under
You have done that. The Mississippi Center for Public Policy a conservative, limited government advocacy group also wrote of Drummer last summer that At the end of the day, we are not safer because Drummer is in prison for the rest of her life, her children are not better off by being raised by someone other than their mother, and taxpayer money could certainly be better invested in something else., Reeves said at a news conference last summer that he wasnt considering a pardon for Drummer and didnt know all the facts of the case., Asked if there were any updates on his position, Martin responded in her June 11 email that to my knowledge, Governor Reeves is not considering any pardons at this time., Warren doesnt understand why her sister is still in prison: You have rehabilitated her. The program fees shall be deposited
offender may be required to complete a postrelease drug and alcohol
of Corrections for a definite term or terms of one (1) year or over, or for the
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection, any
for any of the following crimes: (i) Any sex
With respect to parole-eligible inmates admitted to the department's custody before July 1, 2021, the department shall, to the extent possible, ensure that the case plan is achievable prior to the inmate's parole eligibility date or next parole hearing date, or date of release, whichever is sooner. crime or an offense that specifically prohibits parole release shall be
served twenty-five percent (25%) or more of his sentence may be paroled by the
In Mississippi, Tameka Drummer went to prison in 2008 for possessing less than 2 ounces of marijuana but will never see life beyond bars, despite a new state parole eligibility law going into effect today. AMEND SECTION 99-19-83, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE PROVISIONS THAT
Parole release shall, at the hearing, be ordered only for the best interest of
We give prosecutors the sole. and Parole Association. that the person was physically released from incarceration for the crime, if
requested by the victim following notification of the inmate's parole release
All persons sentenced for a nonviolent offense after
inmate shall be eligible for parole under this subparagraph (***iiiii) of this paragraph (***ge) if: ***1a. The
6. Sections Section 47-5-138, 47-5-139, 47-5-138.1 or 47-5-142,
placed in an electronic monitoring program under this subsection shall pay the
retired, disabled or incapacitated, the senior circuit judge authorizes the
fifteen (15) years and at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the sentence or
requirements in accordance with the rules and policies of the department. Section 47-7-5(9). such life sentence. (3) Any inmate for whom there is insufficient
RELEASE AND A MINIMUM PERCENTAGE OF OTHER SENTENCES OTHER OFFENDERS MUST SERVE
Email Tyler Wann at twann007@gmail.com, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism is a nonprofit Memphis newsroom focused on poverty, power and public policy issues about which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. cared deeply. parolees released after a hearing. (1) Notwithstanding***
(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). parole the inmate with appropriate conditions. this subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (g) if: 1. or 97-5-39(1)(b), 97-5-39(1)(c) or a violation of Section 63-11-30(5). Pickett says the law change will make around 4,000 offenders eligible for parole. The tentative parole hearing date shall be
Senate Bill 2795 constitutes a fundamental shift in the parole rules and procedures in the State of Mississippi. Parole eligibility set to expand in Mississippi under new law, Former wrestler tied to TANF scandal pleads guilty to conspiracy in federal court, 42K Mississippians without power after strong winds cause outages, Two Pearl boxers to fight in Henry Armstrong Classic, Councilman wants to use federal funds to fix Old Canton road slide, Request a First Alert Weather School Visit. Trafficking and aggravated trafficking as defined in Section 41-29-139(f)
shall appoint the members with the advice and consent of the Senate. 47-7-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-7-5. completion of such case plans, the Department of Corrections shall contract
such person shall not be eligible for parole. 2014. whichever is less, of the sentence or sentences imposed by the trial court. a term or terms of thirty (30) years or more, or, if sentenced for the term of
committing the crime of possession of a controlled substance under the Uniform
offender to be eligible for parole consideration; or if that senior circuit
SECTION 4. Habitual offender. LegiScan is an impartial and nonpartisan legislative tracking and reporting service utilizing GAITS and LegiScan API, or any other form of early release from actual physical
I think a lot of the phone calls we receive get people so excited when they hear, Oh, they passed a new law and this is going to happen. And thats not necessarily applying to them, said board member Betty Lou Jones. In 2021, the governor of Mississippi Tate Reeves signed a new bill into law that should counteract these habitual offender laws. However, the principal place for conducting parole hearings shall be the State
4129139(f); 5. shall have absolute immunity from liability for any injury resulting from a
This is a smart on crime, soft on taxpayer conservative reform.. agencies or of a youth court regarding that offender's juvenile criminal
*** In addition to other requirements, if an offender is
trafficking as defined in Section 97-3-54.1; (iv) Any
An offender shall be placed on parole only
97-3-79 shall be eligible for parole only after having seventy-five percent
On Thursday, the House approved H.B. the natural life of such prisoner, has served not less than ten (10) years of
attempted robbery, carjacking or a driveby shooting on or after October
Department of Corrections. In Mississippi, the parole board is not a part of MDOC. by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. felonious abuse of vulnerable adults, felonies with enhanced penalties, except
(3) The board shall have
appointee of the board shall, within sixty (60) days of appointment, or as soon
parole. (7) Notwithstanding
Although there was a lot of compromise in SB 2795, the legislation is good for the state, Barnett said. Parole for non-violent offenders. 2014, and who were sentenced to a term of twenty-five (25) years or greater may
the person's sentence would have been parole eligible before the date on which
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. sentence, but is otherwise ineligible for parole. release shall be eligible for parole. Section 47-7-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-7-5. confined in the execution of a judgment of such conviction in the Mississippi Department
SECTION 8. hearing required. hearing required. (ii)
The inmate has not served onefourth (1/4) of the sentence imposed by the
any other provision of law, an inmate who has not been convicted as a habitual
inmate's case plan to the Parole Board. the condition that the inmate spends no more than six (6) months in the
Before ruling on the application for parole of any
custody within the Department of Corrections. to the department's custody before July 1, 2021, the department shall, to the
Every person
July 1, 2014, are eligible for parole after they have served onefourth
parole except for a person under the age of nineteen (19) who has been
4. Each member shall
If such person is
aggravated assault, kidnapping, felonious abuse of vulnerable adults, felonies
Section 631130(5). persons who are or have been confined therein. citizen, the board may parole the offender with the condition that the inmate
shall not apply to persons convicted after September 30, 1994; (ii)
indicates that the inmate does not have appropriate housing immediately upon
June 30, 1995, may be eligible for parole if the offender meets the
Pickett says the law change will make around 4,000 offenders eligible for parole. (6) If a parole hearing is
She said Drummer is the kind of person who took care of her kids and family. hearing before the Parole Board under Section 47-7-17 before parole release. that the offender will need transitional housing upon release in order to
And we want to make sure that something that happened 15 years prior does not cost you your life for another nonviolent issue, he said. The conditions,
after June 30, 1995, except that an offender convicted of*** only nonviolent crimes any crime after
Q: Is the Mississippi Department of Corrections required to provide an offender about to be released a Mississippi driver's license? hearing date for each eligible offender taken into the custody of the
a sexrelated crime shall require the affirmative vote of three (3)
enhanced penalties for the crime of possession of a controlled substance under
spends no more than six (6) months in a transitional reentry center. offender who has not committed a crime of violence under Section 9732
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, persons
apply to any person who shall commit robbery or attempted robbery on or after
The law enforcement official
There are a few crimes like armed robbery that require the inmate to serve at least 60% of their sentence. whichever is sooner. release. treatment requirements contained in the sentencing order; and. report to the parole officer any change in address ten (10) days before
have a hearing with the board. application for parole or of any decision made by the board regarding parole
convicted of a drug or driving under the influence felony, the offender must
SECTION 5. By: Senator(s) Barnett, Jackson (11th), Sparks, Butler,
sentenced for a sex offense as defined in Section 45-33-23(h), except for a
department, the case plan created to prepare the offender for parole, and the
eligibility date, he or she shall have a hearing before the board to determine
exclusive responsibility for the granting of parole as provided by Sections 47-7-3
The inmate
And not all are eligible we were able to ensure 1st and 2nd degree murderers cant get it. TO PROVIDE A TIME PERIOD FOR QUALIFICATION OF CERTAIN HABITUAL OFFENDERS; TO
The board shall
47-7-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-7-13. (5) The budget of the board
eligible for parole who is convicted or whose suspended sentence is revoked
offender is eligible for release by parole, notice shall also be given within
"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. or 97539(1)(b), 97539(1)(c) or a violation of
parole eligibility date or next parole hearing date, or date of release,
Section 97-3-79, shall be eligible for parole only after having served fifty
without eligibility for parole under the provisions of Section 99-19-101. for such possession, shall be eligible for parole. Tate Reeves cited exclusion of parole eligibility for habitual offenders as one of SB 2795s strengths. This paragraph
provisions of Section 9919101. criteria established by the classification board shall receive priority for
one (1) year after his admission and at such intervals thereafter as it may
months of his parole eligibility date and who meets the criteria established by
Section 4129147, the sale or manufacture of a controlled
such person be eligible for***parole, probation***or any other form of early release from actual physical
required to have a parole hearing before the board prior to parole release. Fifty percent (50%) or thirty (30) years, whichever is less, of a sentence for
substance under the Uniform Controlled Substances Law, felony child abuse, or
A petition posted on Change.org last summer, which currently has 53,776 signatures, asks the governor to pardon Drummer, grant her clemency or commute her sentence. at least fifteen (15) days before release, by the board to the victim of the
provisions of Section 99-19-101; (e) No person shall be
A person serving a sentence who has reached the age
AMEND SECTION 47-7-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING
39110 1, 2014, except for robbery with a deadly weapon; (d)
She (Drummer) could have had probation and been home by now.. 47-7-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-7-3. Persons shall not be
Conservative nonprofit advocacy group Empower Mississippi celebrated the signing of the bill, with President Russ Latino saying in a statement posted to its website that signing the bill into law should be seen as a signal to the Department of Justice that we are prepared to get our own house in order, without costly federal intervention. For purposes of this paragraph,
(***fe) (i) No person shall be
30, 2021 at 12:32 PM PDT. elsewhere, and where any one (1) of such felonies shall have been a crime of
If the board determines that
the person was incarcerated for the crime. In addition, an offender incarcerated for
Section
Management of Offender Data and Records by the Mississippi Department of Corrections and discussed the. shall, on or after January 1, 1977, be convicted of robbery or attempted
sentence or sentences imposed by the court as set forth below: (a)
parole eligibility date. sentenced for the term of the natural life of such person. Any offense that specifically prohibits parole release; E.
crime for which paroled, the date of the end of parole or flat-time date and
Section
An
Any sex offense as defined in Section 45-33-23(h); B. 47-7-18, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-7-18 (1)*** Each No inmate convicted of a sex offense
An offender incarcerated
The board
Copyright 2021 WLBT. court. "We strongly urge the Alabama Legislature to pass this important bill during its 2021 session." The parole eligibility date for violent
has not served one-fourth (1/4) of the sentence imposed by the court. such person is sentenced to a term or terms of ten (10) years or less, then
sufficient office space and support resources and staff necessary to conducting
appointed to serve on the board shall possess at least a bachelor's degree or a
no person convicted of a criminal offense*** on or after*** July 1, 2014 June 30, 1995, shall be
required sentence as defined in subsection (1)(e)(i)1. through 4. and
The inmate is sentenced for a sex crime; or. This paragraph (f) shall not apply to persons
We observed as the board asked questions of an offender Wednesday, ranging from who hed live with if released, to whether hed had any rule violations while incarcerated. After the veto last year, he said he reached out to parties, including the Governors Office, that had a problem with the previous bill to collectively craft the legislation, something he said he thinks made the difference in getting this bill passed. PROVIDE THAT THE VICTIM OR DESIGNATED FAMILY MEMBER SHALL BE PROVIDED AN
Sen. Juan Barnett, D-Heidelburg, the author of the bill as well as SB 2795, told the Associated Press a key difference between the measures is this years bill will not allow parole consideration for anyone convicted of murder. district or a senior status judge may hear and decide the matter; (h)
necessary with respect to the eligibility of offenders for parole, the conduct
Under a House bill introduced last session, priors that were more than 15 years old would not have been counted in habitual sentencing under the little law, and the bill would have prevented someone from a life without parole sentence for a nonviolent crime under the big law, Bennett said. program fee provided in Section 47-5-1013. Fifty percent (50%) or twenty (20) years, whichever is less, of a sentence for
age eighteen (18) to twenty-five (25) after June 30, 1995, and before July 1,
is less, of the sentence or sentences imposed by the trial court; 3. of its acts and shall notify each institution of its decisions relating to the
Thats more important than the dollar that it costs.. for committing the crime of sale or manufacture of a controlled substance. section before the effective date of this act may be considered for parole if
controlled substance under the Uniform Controlled Substances Law, felony child
to life imprisonment under the provisions of Section 9919101; In addition to other requirements, if an offender is
SECTION 6. inmate every eight (8) weeks from the date the offender received the case plan
publish the information. sentences imposed by the trial court. (75%) or thirty (30) years, whichever is less, of the sentence or sentences
parole only after having served fifty percent (50%) or thirty (30) years,
date pursuant to Section 47-7-17. board*** may shall
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. or major violation report within the past six (6) months; (d) The inmate has agreed to the
JACKSON, Miss. high school diploma and four (4) years' work experience. 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.