2016 -- H 7247

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LC003411

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

     RELATING TO CRIMINALS - CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS - PAROLE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Filippi, Carnevale, Casey, Reilly, and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: January 20, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 13-8-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 13-8 entitled "Parole" is

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hereby amended to read as follows:

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     13-8-9. Issuance of parole. -- (a) The parole board, in the case of any prisoner whose

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sentence is subject to its control, unless that prisoner is sentenced to imprisonment for life, and

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unless that prisoner is confined as a habitual criminal under the provisions of § 12-19-21, may, by

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an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board, issue to that prisoner a permit to be

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at liberty upon parole, whenever that prisoner has served not less than one-third ( 1/3) of the term

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for which he or she was sentenced. The permit shall entitle the prisoner to whom it is issued to be

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at liberty during the remainder of his or her term of sentence upon any terms and conditions that

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the board may prescribe.

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      (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, in the case of a

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conviction for a first- or second-degree murder committed after July 1, 2015, or in the case of a

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conviction for a crime of violence as defined in §11-47-2 committed after July 1, 2016, when the

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prisoner has not been sentenced to life, the prisoner shall not be eligible for a parole permit until

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he or she has served at least fifty-percent (50%) of his or her sentence.

 

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

     RELATING TO CRIMINALS - CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS - PAROLE

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     This act would require persons convicted of crimes of violence to serve half their

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sentence before being eligible for parole.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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