Comprehensive Parole Reduction Act; Parole Board to adopt an analytical scale to assess risk. (HB703)

Introduced By

Del. Mamye BaCote (D-Newport News)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Comprehensive Parole Reduction Act. Requires the Parole Board to adopt an analytical scale to assess risk and establishes a Parole Guidelines Review Panel. The bill also provides that, with some exceptions, once a person is considered eligible for parole the Parole Board shall not use the nature of the offense in determining that person's eligibility or suitability for release on parole and no person shall be denied parole based solely on the nature of the offense after the fifth year of becoming eligible. Read the Bill »

Status

02/01/2008: Awaiting a Vote in the Public Safety Committee

History

DateAction
01/08/2008Committee
01/08/2008Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 086200424
01/08/2008Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety
02/01/2008Stricken at request of Patron in Militia, Police and Public Safety

Comments

Frances Smith writes:

There are many inmates that have been incarcerated since 1994 or before that are rehabilitated, pose no threat to society, and are eligible for parole that need to be given meaningful consideration for release. By mandating the use of a validated risk-assessment instrument to predict a person's risk to public safety in every release decision, policymakers can maximize the benefits of discretion while maintaining the sort of objectivity that mandatory sentencing guidelines provide. An objective, validated risk-assessment instrument is a far more effective way of measuring risk than a parole board officer's subjective evaluation, and it allows for more informed and appropriate clinical decision-making related to release and conditions of release. There are many states that have a validated risk-assessment instrument that is working and it greatly out weighs the cost.