Bill > HB1538

This bill amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to further provide for parole procedure. The key provisions are: 1. The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (the Board) may grant paroles on its own motion when it deems it in the interests of justice. The Board must consider parole applications from inmates or their attorneys, but is not required to consider applications within one year of a previous decision, or within five years for inmates sentenced under the state's law for murder by juveniles. 2. The Board is not required to consider parole applications within three years of a previous decision for inmates convicted of certain serious crimes like murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, and sexual offenses, or for inmates designated as sexually violent predators. 3. Hearings on parole applications must be held by the Board when it deems necessary, and the Board must provide a statement of reasons for its parole decisions. 4. The Board may rely on reports and use videoconferencing for parole hearings, but must hear in-person victim testimony without use of virtual technology. The bill applies to both existing and future offenders covered by the new parole restrictions.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2019&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1538