Parole Board; parole review and denial. (HB2103)
Introduced By
Del. Mark Sickles (D-Alexandria) with support from co-patrons Del. Delores McQuinn (D-Richmond), Del. Roslyn Tyler (D-Jarratt), and Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
Passed Committee |
✓ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
✓ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Parole Board; parole review and denial. Requires the Parole Board to ensure that each person eligible for parole receives a timely and thorough review of his suitability for release on parole, including a review of any material post-sentencing factors. If the Board denies the inmate parole, the Board is required to deliver a written, fact-specific, and individualized statement of the reasons for such denial. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Passed
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/09/2013 | Committee |
01/09/2013 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/13 13103721D |
01/09/2013 | Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety |
01/15/2013 | Assigned MPPS sub: #2 |
01/17/2013 | Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) |
01/18/2013 | Reported from Militia, Police and Public Safety with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
01/18/2013 | Committee substitute printed 13104181D-H1 |
01/21/2013 | Read first time |
01/22/2013 | Read second time |
01/22/2013 | Committee substitute agreed to 13104181D-H1 |
01/22/2013 | Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB2103H1 |
01/23/2013 | Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N) |
01/23/2013 | VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (98-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
01/24/2013 | Constitutional reading dispensed |
01/24/2013 | Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services |
02/08/2013 | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (14-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/11/2013 | Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/12/2013 | Read third time |
02/12/2013 | Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/18/2013 | Enrolled |
02/18/2013 | Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2103ER) |
02/18/2013 | Signed by Speaker |
02/19/2013 | Signed by President |
02/22/2013 | Impact statement from DPB (HB2103ER) |
03/23/2013 | G Approved by Governor-Chapter 708 (effective 7/1/13) |
03/23/2013 | G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0708) |
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia supports legislation that gives parole eligible inmates due process and fairness as required by the Constitution. This bill requires the Parole Board to make clear and timely determinations to grant parole based on material factors and if parole is denied, the Board must provide the prisoner with fact-specific, individualized reasons for the denial. Currently, the Parole Board's process lacks transparency and Virginia has one of the highest parole denial rates in the nation. Parole was abolished in 1995, but for inmates that remain eligible, most are serving sentences much longer than their counterparts who committed crimes after 1995. Many of the parole eligible prisoners have been rehabilitated, are supported by prisoner counselors, and have strong family support; however the Board frequently sends boilerplate rejections citing “serious nature and circumstances of crime.”
Virginia has an incredibly high percentage of parole denials given the resources(millions of dollars and federal grants)being expended on prisoner rehabilitation and re-entry programs.STAND believes these VADOC programs work. Their loved ones are proof of these rehabilitative and re-entry programs' effectiveness, having instilled positive, cognitive self-changes in men and women suitable for release as productive, law-abiding members of society. The nature of the crimes committed will never change but many "Parole Eligible Offenders" have changed.
ACLU of Virginia supports this legislation that, as amended in committee, will assure those denied parole a statement of reasons for the denial.