The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Alden A. Clement Jr.
DIGEST
SB 355 Original 2020 Regular Session Boudreaux
Present law provides relative to parole eligibility for certain offenders serving fixed sentences or life
imprisonment. Present law provides that a person, otherwise eligible for parole, whose instant
offense is a second conviction of a crime of violence as defined in present law or a first or second
conviction of a sex offense as defined in present law are eligible for parole consideration upon
serving 75 % of the sentence imposed. Present law further provides that a person convicted a third
or subsequent time of a crime of violence or a third or subsequent time of a sex offense is not eligible
for parole.
Proposed law removes the prohibition for parole consideration from persons serving sentences for
crimes of violence. Proposed law otherwise retains present law.
Present law provides that, unless eligible for parole at an earlier date, a person committed to the
Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections for a term or terms of imprisonment with or without benefit
of parole for 30 years or more is eligible for parole consideration upon serving at least 20 years of
the term or terms of imprisonment in actual custody and upon reaching the age of 45 years. Present
law further provides that this provision does not apply to a person serving a life sentence unless the
sentence has been commuted to a fixed term of years. Present law further provides that these
provisions relative to parole eligibility do not apply to a person convicted of armed robbery or to a
person convicted of a crime of violence or sex offense.
Proposed law removes the requirement that the person have reached the age of 45 years and removes
the prohibition for parole consideration for persons convicted of armed robbery or other crimes of
violence. Proposed law otherwise retains present law.
Present law provides that no person is eligible for parole consideration who has been convicted of
armed robbery or who is serving a life sentence until his life sentence has been commuted to a fixed
term of years.
Proposed law deletes present law.
Present law provides that any person serving a life sentence, with or without the benefit of parole,
except a person convicted of a crime of violence or a sex offense, is eligible for parole under certain
circumstances, be eligible for parole consideration if certain criteria is met, including time-served
requirements, low risk level designation, good behavior, minimum pre-release programming,
substance abuse treatment, GED, and job skills training.
Proposed law removes the prohibition for parole consideration under these circumstances from
persons serving sentences for crimes of violence. Proposed law otherwise retains present law. Present law provides that a person serving a life sentence for second degree murder is eligible for
parole consideration if the offender has served at least 40 years of the sentence imposed.
Proposed law changes the minimum time served from 40 years to 30 years and requires that the life
sentence have not been for first degree murder or first degree rape. Proposed law otherwise retains
present law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 15:574.4(A)(1)(b)(i) and (2), (B)(1) and (B)(2)(intro para), and (H)(1))