RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 99 (HB 173) 2020 Regular Session James
New law provides parole eligibility for any person serving a term or terms of imprisonment
that result in a period of incarceration of 25 years or more and who was under the age of 18
years at the time of the commission if certain conditions are met including but not limited
to the following:
(1)The offender has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the 12 consecutive
months prior to the parole hearing date.
(2)The offender has completed the mandatory minimum of 100 hours of prerelease
programming.
(3)The offender has completed substance abuse treatment as applicable.
(4)The offender has obtained a GED certification or has completed certain other
educational or job skills programs.
(5)The offender has obtained a low-risk level designation determined by a validated risk
assessment instrument.
(6)The offender has completed a reentry program.
New law provides that for each offender eligible for parole consideration pursuant to new
law, the committee on parole shall meet in a three-member panel, shall consider the impact
that the lack of brain development in adolescence has on culpability and behavior, a juvenile
offender's unique ability to mature and grow, and any other relevant evidence or testimony
pertaining to the offender. Proposed law further requires the three-member panel to render
specific findings of fact in support of its decision.
Effective Aug. 1, 2020.
(Adds R.S. 15:574.4(J))