Bill > A1254

Introduced Session

This bill establishes geriatric parole for inmates 65 years of age or older who have served a minimum of one third of their sentence. The appropriate board panel reviewing a request for geriatric parole is to consider the inmate's risk to public safety. Inmates who are serving a sentence for a sex offense as defined in Megan's Law or for committing or attempting to commit the following offenses are not eligible for geriatric parole: murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, robbery, second degree arson, or terrorism. Additionally, inmates are not eligible for geriatric parole if serving a sentence for theft by deception, racketeering, or misapplication of entrusted property by fiduciary in which the inmate caused the victim to suffer a loss of personal monetary savings as a result of fraud, misrepresentation, or violation of a fiduciary duty. This bill requires the board panel to notify the appropriate sentencing court, county prosecutor or Attorney General, and any victim or member of the family of a victim who are entitled to notice regarding parole. The sentencing court, county prosecutor or Attorney General, and any victim or member of the family of a victim would be afforded the opportunity to submit comments to the board panel. Under this bill, denial of a request for geriatric parole does not preclude an inmate's eligibility for parole under current law.

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Jamel Holley (D)*,  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)*,  Gary Schaer (D)*,  Shanique Speight (D), 

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 08/03/2020)