Bill > S03440

This bill amends the Executive Law and Penal Law to authorize early parole release for inmates where substance abuse was a significant contributing factor in the commission of the offense. The key provisions of the bill include: (1) allowing inmates who have successfully completed a substance abuse treatment program within a correctional facility and have not been disciplined for drug, marijuana or alcohol use for at least two years to be eligible for early release to community supervision once they have completed one-half of their minimum period of incarceration, with some exceptions; (2) establishing criteria for the Parole Board to determine whether substance abuse was a significant contributing factor in the commission of the offense; and (3) allowing the court to make a finding that substance abuse was a significant contributing factor in the commission of a controlled substance or marijuana offense and order the inmate's enrollment in a substance abuse treatment program.