Bill > HB1147

This bill aims to improve transparency and equity in the Maryland Parole Commission's processes by introducing several key changes. The bill requires the Commission's annual report to include detailed, race-disaggregated information about parole decisions, such as the number of cases where parole was granted or denied, administrative releases, hearing details, and parole-eligible individuals who have not been granted parole. It mandates that the Commission provide copies of all documents to be used in parole hearings, rather than simply allowing examination upon request, and specifies conditions under which certain documents might be withheld. The bill also requires commissioners to document and state their reasoning for parole decisions on the record, make these reasons available to the public, and provide written notices to incarcerated individuals explaining parole denials. Additionally, the legislation establishes more structured timelines for subsequent parole hearings based on an individual's sentence length, clarifies that permanent parole denial is not allowed, and requires hearing recordings to be retained electronically and made available to the incarcerated individual while protecting victim privacy. These changes are intended to create a more transparent, consistent, and equitable parole review process. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Justice

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1147?ys=2025RS