Bill > S1722

This bill establishes two key provisions related to parole for elderly and medically compromised prisoners: Elder Parole and Medical Parole. For Elder Parole, prisoners aged 55 and older who have served at least half their sentence or 15 years become eligible for a parole hearing, where the parole board must carefully consider factors like advanced age, long-term confinement, medical conditions, and diminished capacity. The board can grant parole unless they can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the person will likely violate the law if released. The bill requires the parole board to conduct hearings every two years if parole is initially denied and mandates an annual report detailing demographic and procedural information about elder parole applications. For Medical Parole, the bill revises definitions of "permanent incapacitation" and "terminal illness", creates more comprehensive procedures for petitioning and evaluating medical parole, and ensures that prisoners with terminal or permanently incapacitating conditions can be considered for release. The bill emphasizes non-discriminatory decision-making, provides protections for indigent prisoners, and establishes detailed reporting requirements for medical parole cases. Both provisions aim to humanely address the circumstances of aging and medically vulnerable prisoners while maintaining public safety considerations.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1722