Relating to the mandatory supervised release of inmates; to amend Section 15-22-26.2, as last amended by Act 2021-549, First Special Session, to provide that the mandatory supervised release of inmates only apply to inmates in the custody of the Department of Corrections on or after January 31, 2030.
As per the amendments proposed in SB7, inmates sentenced to confinement will adhere to specific release timings based on their sentence lengths. For instance, those sentenced to five years or less will be released no less than three months prior to their release date, while those with longer sentences will have correspondingly extended pre-release periods. This structured release framework aims to facilitate a smoother transition for inmates back into society while ensuring that they are monitored during the initial period of their reintegration.
SB7 aims to amend the current laws surrounding the mandatory supervised release of inmates. It stipulates that the mandatory supervision provisions will apply only to inmates who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections on or after January 31, 2030. This modification is significant as it shifts the application of existing laws forward, effectively excluding inmates who are currently in custody before this date from benefiting from the mandated supervised release arrangements.
There are notable points of contention around the bill, particularly concerning its impact on certain categories of offenders. SB7 explicitly excludes defendants convicted of sex offenses involving children from these provisions, which raises questions about equity and fairness in the treatment of different types of offenders. Critics of such exclusions argue that it may lead to a disparity in how various groups are treated during the release process, potentially complicating efforts for uniformity in corrections management.