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)]
HB 145 Original 2021 Regular Session Bryant
Abstract: Allows for parole eligibility of persons convicted of specific crimes under certain
circumstances.
Present law provides that notwithstanding present law provisions, 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 shall be 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.
Present law further provides that parole eligibility is not applicable to any person who has been
convicted of armed robbery under R.S. 14:64, a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B), or a
sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541.
Proposed law amends present law to provide that persons who have been convicted of armed robbery
under R.S. 14:64 shall be 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.
Proposed law specifies that a person who has been convicted of a crime of violence or a sex offense
shall not be eligible for parole when the offense was committed on or after July 1, 2008.
Present law provides that except as provided by present law, no prisoner serving a life sentence shall
be eligible for parole consideration until his life sentence has been commuted to a fixed term of years
and no prisoner sentenced as a serial sexual offender shall be eligible for parole. No prisoner may
be paroled while there is pending against him any indictment or information for any crime suspected
of having been committed by him while a prisoner.
Present law further provides that a person convicted of a crime of violence and not otherwise
ineligible for parole shall serve at least 65% of the sentence imposed, before being eligible for
parole.
Present law also provides that the victim or victim's family shall be notified whenever the offender
is to be released provided that the victim or victim's family has completed a Louisiana victim notice
and registration form as provided in R.S. 46:1841 et seq., or has otherwise provided contact
information and has indicated to the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, Crime Victims Services
Bureau, that they desire such notification. Proposed law retains present law but removes the prohibition that no person shall be eligible for
parole consideration who has been convicted of armed robbery and denied under the provisions of
present law (R.S. 14:64).
Proposed law further amends present law to provide that notwithstanding any provision of present
law, a person convicted of a crime of violence when the offense was committed after July 1, 2008,
and not otherwise ineligible for parole shall serve at least 65% of the sentence imposed before being
eligible for release on good time parole supervision.
Specifies that proposed law shall have retroactive and prospective application.
(Amends R.S. 15:574.4(A)(2) and (B)(1))