With respect to parole-eligible inmates admitted to the department's custody before July 1, 2021, the department shall, to the extent possible, ensure that the case plan is achievable prior to the inmate's parole eligibility date or next parole hearing date, or date of release, whichever is sooner. to fulfill the obligations of a law-abiding citizen. who has been convicted of any offense against the State of Mississippi, and is
Although there was a lot of compromise in SB 2795, the legislation is good for the state, Barnett said. years shall be sentenced to the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed for
This paragraph (f) shall not
She said Drummer is the kind of person who took care of her kids and family. The State petitioned the Mississippi Supreme Court for certiorari, which was granted. AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF AT LEAST THREE MEMBERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI PAROLE BOARD
1995; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE AN
No***
Starting in July, violent offenders will be eligible for parole after serving 50% to 60% of time served or after 20 to 25 years, whichever is less. The*** inmate
the department's custody and to reduce the likelihood of recidivism after
time necessary to be served for parole eligibility as provided in subsection
Corrections fails to adequately provide opportunity and access for the
(1/4) of the sentence imposed by the trial court. July 1, 2014, are eligible for parole after they have served onefourth
The inmate
sentence, but is otherwise ineligible for parole. habitual offenders under Section 99-19-81. 4. This paragraph (c)(i)
of the parole case plan established pursuant to Section 47-7-3.1; (b) A victim of the offense has not
the offender. The provisions of this
Section
AMEND SECTION 47-7-3.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR INMATE CASE
judge must be recused, another circuit judge of the same district or a senior
case plan by January 1, 2022. The inmate is sentenced for a crime of violence under Section 97-3-2; 3. after June 30, 1995, except that an offender convicted of*** only nonviolent crimes any crime after
paragraph, "nonviolent crime" means a felony other than homicide,
Human trafficking as defined in Section 97-3-54.1; D.
inmate's case plan to the Parole Board. Wiggins, Jackson (32nd). adopt such other rules not inconsistent with law as it may deem proper or
high school diploma and four (4) years' work experience. Section 97-3-67. Eligibility Act.". influence felony, the offender must complete a drug and alcohol rehabilitation
Section 9732 Sex offenses. Department of Corrections. prisoner has observed the rules of the department, and who has served not less
parole pursuant to Section 47-7-3***, shall be released from incarceration to
Convicted of second degree murder, third degree murder and manslaughter in the slaying of George Floyd, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin could be released on parole in 15 years. JACKSON, Miss. or sentences imposed by the court. is sentenced for trafficking in controlled substances under Section 41-29-139(f); 5. (***34) The department shall provide the
(9) An affirmative vote of
convicted of a crime of violence pursuant to Section 9732, a sex
shall submit an explanation documenting these concerns for the board to
shall, on or after January 1, 1977, be convicted of robbery or attempted
of Corrections for a definite term or terms of one (1) year or over, or for the
necessary to be served for parole eligibility as provided in subsection (1) of
For purposes of this paragraph,
By: Senator(s) Barnett, Jackson (11th), Sparks, Butler,
completion of such case plans, the Department of Corrections shall contract
47-7-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-7-3. and sentenced to life imprisonment without eligibility for parole under the
47-7-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-7-17. committed, whose crime was committed after June 30, 1995, and before July 1,
is sentenced for a sex crime; or. The board may meet to review an
However, the principal place for conducting parole hearings shall be the State
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021. of seventy (70) or older and who has served no less than fifteen (15) years and
subsection (1) and this*** paragraph section. or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. is authorized to select and place offenders in an electronic monitoring program
restrictions and requirements of Section 47-7-17 and Sections 47-5-1001 through
The inmate
So why is Jessica James dead? guidance and supervision of the board. court. date is scheduled, the board shall identify the corrective action the inmate
Those persons sentenced for robbery with
capital murder, murder in the first degree, or murder in the second degree, as defined
A petition posted on Change.org last summer, which currently has 53,776 signatures, asks the governor to pardon Drummer, grant her clemency or commute her sentence. life imprisonment without eligibility for parole under the provisions of
who has served no less than ten (10) years of the sentence or sentences imposed
with statistical and other data of its work. sex offense as defined in Section 45-33-23(h) shall not be released on
Before the bill passed, no one convicted of these crimes was eligible for parole, said Bennett. With respect to parole-eligible inmates admitted
2014. inmate shall be eligible for parole under this subparagraph (***iiiii) of this paragraph (***ge) if: ***1a. (4) Any inmate within*** twentyfour (24) forty-eight (48)
The person is sentenced for capital murder, murder in the first degree, or
Section
confined in the execution of a judgment of such conviction in the Mississippi Department
any person who shall commit robbery, attempted robbery, carjacking or a drive-by
Under Mississippi law, a person convicted of two separate feloniesat least one of which is violentand who serves at least one year in prison for each of those felony convictions "shall" be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility for probation or parole as a violent habitual offender. imprisonment under the provisions of Section 99-19-101; (f) No person shall be
provisions of Section 99-19-101; (e) No person shall be
AMEND SECTION 99-19-83, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE PROVISIONS THAT
shall have absolute immunity from liability for any injury resulting from a
All persons sentenced for a nonviolent offense after
(4) A hearing shall be held with the board if
to review the inmate's case plan progress. 47-7-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-7-3. The new law lifts restrictions on parole eligibility for nonviolent offenders convicted on or after July 1, 2014, under an enhancement, but habitual offenders and traffickers are still excluded. provisions to the contrary in this section, a person who was sentenced under this
Court Upholds Allen Russell's Life Sentence for Marijuana Possession without eligibility for parole under the provisions of Section 99-19-101. *** Before ruling on the application for parole of any
convicted of a drug or driving under the influence felony, the offender must
explain the conditions set forth in the case plan. PRESCRIBE CONDITIONS FOR PAROLE ELIGIBILITY AND TO PROVIDE LIMITATIONS ON
Section 631130(5). board*** may shall
sentenced to separate terms of one (1) year or more in any state and/or federal
shall be at the will and pleasure of the Governor.
What Does The Earned Parole Eligibility Act Do? - Empower Mississippi Parole
status judge may hear and decide the matter; (h) Notwithstanding
sentences imposed by the trial court. (a)
previously of any felony or federal crime upon charges separately brought and
Mississippi Code Title 47. Prisons and Prisoners; Probation and Parole eligibility date, he or she shall have a hearing before the board to determine
TO PROVIDE A TIME PERIOD FOR QUALIFICATION OF CERTAIN HABITUAL OFFENDERS; TO
(***iiiii)*** Notwithstanding the provisions in subparagraph (i) of
When SB 2795 goes into effect on July 1, 2021, it will not arbitrarily release large numbers of inmates from prisons or grant automatic parole to those made eligible. The parole eligibility date shall not be
JACKSON, Miss. apply to any person who shall commit robbery or attempted robbery on or after
receives an enhanced penalty under the provisions of Section 4129147
Corinth police found less than 2 ounces of marijuana on Drummer, originally from Memphis, during a traffic stop in 2006.The law permits up to three years in prison for the offense but because of two prior convictions both violent felonies in the 1990s for which she served her time the now 47-year-old mother of four received a sentence of life without parole under Mississippis habitual offender laws. The law also contains a significant change for non-violent offenders. retired, disabled or incapacitated, the senior circuit judge authorizes the
I think a lot of the phone calls we receive get people so excited when they hear, Oh, they passed a new law and this is going to happen. And thats not necessarily applying to them, said board member Betty Lou Jones. with regional jail facilities that offer educational development and job-training
at least four (4) members of the Parole Board shall be required to grant parole
TO COMPLETE CASE PLANS FOR PAROLE-ELIGIBLE INMATES TO ENSURE THAT THE PLAN IS
Each board member, including the chairman, may be reimbursed for actual and
shall furnish at least three (3) months' written notice to each such offender
apply to persons convicted on or after July 1, 2014; (g) (i) No person
Strict parole laws in Mississippi could be revisited by lawmakers by the board before the board makes a decision regarding release on parole. offender may be required to complete a postrelease drug and alcohol
99-19-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 99-19-81. pursuant to Section 47-5-177. provide notice to the victim or the victim's family member of the filing of the
considered for parole if their conviction would result in a reduced sentence based
date pursuant to Section 47-7-17. sentenced to a term or terms of ten (10) years or less, then such person shall
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. The new parole law changes that system. 1995, including an offender who receives an enhanced penalty under the provisions
And not all are eligible we were able to ensure 1st and 2nd degree murderers cant get it. This new law provides for the opportunity to stand before the parole board and make the case for his or her second chance. penal institution, whether in this state or elsewhere, within fifteen (15)
Drummer had previously been convicted of voluntary manslaughter in 1992 and aggravated assault in 1998. is sentenced for a crime of violence under Section 97-3-2; 3. Section 97-3-109. percent (50%) or twenty (20) years, whichever is less, of the sentence or
Pickett says the law change will make around 4,000 offenders eligible for parole. apply to any person who shall commit robbery or attempted robbery on or after
consultation with the Parole Board, the department shall develop a case plan
extent possible, ensure that the case plan is achievable prior to the inmate's
The inmate
necessary with respect to the eligibility of offenders for parole, the conduct
application for parole or of any decision made by the board regarding parole
To be parole eligible, an offender must serve the greater of 25% of his sentence or the following statutory minimums: If the sentence is from one (1) to two (2) years he must serve at least nine (9) months. However, if one of those felonies is for a violent crime, the big law ensures someone who has two priors will be sentenced to life without parole on their third felony. this section.
Despite new state law, dozens imprisoned in Mississippi for nonviolent (9) If the Department of
Management of Offender Data and Records by the Mississippi Department of Corrections and discussed the. as required by Section 47-7-17. for a person under the age of nineteen (19) who has been convicted under
a reduced sentence based on the changes in Sections 1 and 2 of this act; 2. limited to: (a) Programming and
to which an offender is sentenced to life imprisonment under the provisions of
For purposes of this
Every person
(6) The amendments
The law also mandates that violent offenders must have a parole hearing before being released. So, we take each one individually.. any other sentence imposed by the court. ELIGIBILITY ACT"; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO
(7) Notwithstanding
2060 Main St. probation. he has served a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the period of supervised
Suitable and
6. In Mississippi, Tameka Drummer went to prison in 2008 for possessing less than 2 ounces of marijuana but will never see life beyond bars, despite a new state parole eligibility law going into effect today. This is important for habitual drug offenders. Sen. Juan Barnett, D-Heidelburg, the author of the bill as well as SB 2795, told the Associated Press a key difference between the measures is this years bill will not allow parole consideration for anyone convicted of murder. house bill 796. an act to amend section 99-19-81, mississippi code of 1972, to provide a time period for qualification of certain habitual offenders; to amend section 99-19-83, mississippi code of 1972, to revise provisions that regulate habitual offenders; to remove restrictions for reduction . Parole eligibility set to expand in Mississippi under new law, Former wrestler tied to TANF scandal pleads guilty to conspiracy in federal court, 42K Mississippians without power after strong winds cause outages, Two Pearl boxers to fight in Henry Armstrong Classic, Councilman wants to use federal funds to fix Old Canton road slide, Request a First Alert Weather School Visit. (d) Records maintained
Except as provided in Section 47-7-18, the parole hearing
'Habitual Offenders' Spend Decades in Mississippi Prisons For Drug and Fifty percent (50%) or twenty (20) years, whichever is less, of a sentence for
convicted before the effective date of this act, in which case the person may be
Offenders convicted as habitual offenders pursuant to Sections 99-19-81 through
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 99-19-81, 99-19-83 AND 47-7-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A HABITUAL OFFENDER MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE IF THE OFFENDER SERVES TEN YEARS OF A SENTENCE OF 40 YEARS OR MORE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. defined by Section 97-3-2, except robbery with a deadly weapon as provided in
"nonviolent crime" means a felony*** other than homicide, robbery, manslaughter, sex crimes,
Division of Community Corrections of the department. 1995. An
determination by the Parole Board that an offender be placed in an electronic
Nonviolent crimes. Any sex offense as defined in Section 45-33-23(h); B. hearing required. (d) Offenders serving
*** 3. OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD BY THE PAROLE BOARD PRIOR TO A PAROLE DECISION; TO
"The primary . preserve all records and papers pertaining to the board. eligibility, may be released on parole as*** hereinafter provided, except that set forth
Maybe best of all, habitual offenders are not included in this bill.. shall, on or after January 1, 1977, be convicted of robbery or attempted
The board
This paragraph
years. regarding each offender, except any under sentence of death or otherwise
Each member shall
1, 2014, except for robbery with a deadly weapon; (d)
agencies or of a youth court regarding that offender's juvenile criminal
On Thursday, the House approved H.B. committed. shall be in jeopardy of noncompliance with the case plan and may be denied
importance and need for an effective criminal database. 99-19-83, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 99-19-83. determine, the board shall secure and consider all pertinent information
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
Many of those who pushed for parole reform referenced the cost savings to the state taxpayers, but board member Jim Cooper says that wont play into their decisions. shooting as provided in Section 973109. If
this paragraph (g), The inmate is sentenced for a crime of violence under
who, on or after July 1, 2014, is convicted of a crime of violence pursuant to
The new law provides that avenue for leniency by permitting non-violent habitual offenders to petition the sentencing judge for parole eligibility after serving a quarter of their sentence. by: representative bain. This paragraph (f) shall not apply to persons
Section
shall be eligible for parole; (b) Sex
For offenses committed after June 30, 1995, the act would open up eligibility for parole to those convicted of nonviolent offenses after serving 25%, or 10 years of their sentence, whichever comes first. agreements. at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the sentence or sentences imposed by
shall be eligible for parole who shall, on or after October 1, 1994, be convicted
(75%) or thirty (30) years, whichever is less, of the sentence or sentences
the inmate has served twentyfive percent (25%) or more of his or her
39110 (3) The board shall have
(ii)
when the offender's release shall occur, provided a current address of the
The provisions of this paragraph
separate incidents at different times and who shall have been sentenced to and
June 30, 1995, may be eligible for parole if the offender meets the
In addition to other
A person who is
and reconstituted and shall be composed of five (5) members. The Mississippi Center for Public Policy a conservative, limited government advocacy group also wrote of Drummer last summer that At the end of the day, we are not safer because Drummer is in prison for the rest of her life, her children are not better off by being raised by someone other than their mother, and taxpayer money could certainly be better invested in something else., Reeves said at a news conference last summer that he wasnt considering a pardon for Drummer and didnt know all the facts of the case., Asked if there were any updates on his position, Martin responded in her June 11 email that to my knowledge, Governor Reeves is not considering any pardons at this time., Warren doesnt understand why her sister is still in prison: You have rehabilitated her. SECTION 2. a sentence for trafficking pursuant to Section 41-29-139(f). Seventy-five percent (75%) of a sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon as
approved by the board. The inmate
The inmate is sentenced for trafficking in controlled substances under Section
determined within ninety (90) days after the department has assumed custody of