GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 643 2020 Regular Session Jones
PAROLE: Provides relative to the supervision of parolees
DIGEST
Present law provides that when the committee on parole orders an offender released on
parole, the term shall be for the remainder of the offender's sentence, with credits for
compliance with the terms and conditions of parole supervision pursuant to present law (R.S.
15:574.6.1). Further provides that when the parolee has completed his full parole term, he
shall be discharged from parole by the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections without order
by the committee, provided that:
(1)No warrant has been issued by the committee for the arrest of the parolee.
(2)No detainer has been issued by the parole officer for the detention of the parolee
pending revocation proceedings.
(3)No indictment or bill of information is pending for any felony the parolee is
suspected to have committed while on parole.
Proposed law amends present law to require the committee's determination of time and
conditions of release on parole of any offender who has been convicted of a felony and
sentenced to imprisonment, and confined in any penal or correctional institution in this state
to be in accordance with present law (R.S. 15:574.7).
Present law (R.S. 15:574.7) requires each parolee to remain in the legal custody of the Dept.
of Public Safety and Corrections, corrections services, and requires the parolee to be subject
to the order and supervision of the committee. Further provides that at the direction of the
committee, the chief probation and parole officer shall be responsible for the investigation
and supervision of all parolees. Authorizes the committee to modify or suspend such
supervision upon a determination that a parolee who had conducted himself in accordance
with the conditions of his parole no longer needs the guidance and supervision originally
imposed.
Proposed law provides that upon recommendation of the supervising parole officer and
approval of the committee on parole, the level of supervision and fees associated with the
supervision of a parolee may be reduced after the parolee has served a minimum of three
years without a violation of the terms and conditions of parole for a crime that is not a crime
of violence as defined by present law (R.S. 14:2(B)) and a minimum of seven years without
a violation of the terms and conditions of parole for a crime that is a crime of violence as
defined by present law.
Proposed law further provides that a parolee who satisfies the conditions of proposed law
may be placed on inactive status upon the approval of the committee. Provides that a parolee
on inactive status shall not be subject to eleven different terms and conditions of parole that
may be specified by the committee (e.g. monthly reporting, payment of supervision fees,
submitting to certain medical exams, etc.) Provides that the committee retains the right to
revoke parole or to reduce the terms and conditions of parole prior to the parolee satisfying
the requirements of proposed law.
(Amends R.S. 15:574.2(D)(1); adds R.S. 15:574.7(E))
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Prepared by Dawn Romero Watson. Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of
Criminal Justice to the original bill:
1. Restore present law relative to the committee's determination of time and
conditions of release on parole of any offender who has been convicted of a
felony and sentenced to imprisonment.
2. Relative to the custody and supervision of parolees, authorize a reduction in
the level of supervision and fees after a parolee has served a certain length of
time.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary B to the
engrossed bill
1. Add provisions regarding the granting of inactive status to a parolee by the
committee.
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Prepared by Dawn Romero Watson.