HLS 12RS-1243 ORIGINAL
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 531
BY REPRESENTATIVE HONORE
PAROLE: Reduces length of time that must be served by certain offenders before becoming
parole eligible
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 15:574.4(B), relative to parole eligibility; to amend provisions2
of law regarding parole eligibility for crimes of violence; and to provide for related3
matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 15:574.4(B) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 6
ยง574.4. Parole; eligibility7
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B. No person shall be eligible for parole consideration who has been9
convicted of armed robbery and denied parole eligibility under the provisions of R.S.10
14:64. No prisoner serving a life sentence shall be eligible for parole consideration11
until his life sentence has been commuted to a fixed term of years. No prisoner12
sentenced as a serial sexual offender shall be eligible for parole. No prisoner may13
be paroled while there is pending against him any indictment or information for any14
crime suspected of having been committed by him while a prisoner.15
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, a person convicted of16
a crime of violence and not otherwise ineligible for parole shall serve at least eighty-17
five fifty percent of the sentence imposed, before being eligible for parole. The18
victim or victim's family shall be notified whenever the offender is to be released19
provided that the victim or victim's family has completed a Louisiana victim notice20 HLS 12RS-1243 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 531
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
and registration form as provided in R.S. 46:1841 et seq., or has otherwise provided1
contact information and has indicated to the Department of Public Safety and2
Corrections, Crime Victims Services Bureau, that they desire such notification.3
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Honore HB No. 531
Abstract: Amends parole eligibility provisions for crimes of violence, reducing the length
of time certain offenders must serve before becoming parole eligible.
Present law provides for the following listing of crimes designated as crimes of violence:
solicitation for murder, first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, aggravated
battery, second degree battery, aggravated assault, mingling harmful substances, aggravated
rape, forcible rape, simple rape, sexual battery, aggravated sexual battery, intentional
exposure to AIDS virus, aggravated kidnapping, second degree kidnapping, simple
kidnapping, aggravated arson, aggravated criminal damage to property, aggravated burglary,
armed robbery, first degree robbery, simple robbery, purse snatching, extortion, assault by
drive-by shooting, aggravated crime against nature, carjacking, illegal use of weapons or
dangerous instrumentalities, aggravated second degree battery, aggravated assault upon a
peace officer with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm, armed robbery, use of
firearm, aggravated robbery, disarming of a peace officer, stalking, second degree cruelty
to juveniles, aggravated flight from an officer, terrorism, battery of a correctional facility
employee, battery of a police officer, and aggravated incest.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that a person convicted of a crime of violence and not otherwise
ineligible for parole shall serve at least 85% of the sentence imposed before being eligible
for parole.
Proposed law changes present law to provide that a person convicted of a crime of violence
not otherwise ineligible for parole shall serve 50% of the sentence imposed before being
eligible for parole.
(Amends R.S. 15:574.4(B))