EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1247*
HOUSE BILL 1247
E5 5lr2345
By: Delegate Otto
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Correctional Services – Parole, Commutation of Sentence, Pardon, and 2
Remission of Sentence – Notification 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services 4
to notify a victim or victim’s representative by certified mail that a parole release 5
hearing has been scheduled or that an incarcerated individual is being considered 6
for a commutation of sentence, pardon, or remission of sentence; requiring the 7
Department to make at least two attempts in writing by certified mail to notify a 8
victim or victim’s representative of certain decisions of the Maryland Parole 9
Commission; and generally relating to parole, commutation of sentence, pardon, and 10
remission of sentence. 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Correctional Services 13
Section 7–801(b) and (h) and 7–805(a) and (e) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Correctional Services 19
7–801. 20
(b) (1) At least 90 days before an incarcerated individual’s parole release 21
hearing, the Department shall notify the victim or the victim’s representative in writing 22
BY CERTIFIED MAIL , directed to the most current address on file, that the parole release 23
hearing has been scheduled if: 24
2 HOUSE BILL 1247
(i) the victim or the victim’s representative filed a notification 1
request form under § 11–104 of the Criminal Procedure Article; or 2
(ii) the victim makes a written request to the Department for 3
notification and maintains a current address on file with the Department. 4
(2) The victim may designate in writing to the Department the name and 5
address of a representative who is a resident of the State to receive notice for the victim. 6
(h) The Department shall MAKE AT LEAST TWO ATT EMPTS IN WRITING BY 7
CERTIFIED MAIL TO notify promptly the victim or the victim’s representative of the 8
decision of the Commission regarding parole for the incarcerated individual. 9
7–805. 10
(a) If the victim made a written request to the Department for notification and 11
maintains a current address on file with the Department or the victim or the victim’s 12
representative filed a notification request form under § 11–104 of the Criminal Procedure 13
Article, the Department shall notify the victim or the victim’s representative in writing BY 14
CERTIFIED MAIL that an incarcerated individual sentenced to the Division of Correction 15
is being considered for a: 16
(1) commutation of sentence; 17
(2) pardon; or 18
(3) remission of sentence. 19
(e) The Department shall MAKE AT LEAST TWO AT TEMPTS IN WRITING BY 20
CERTIFIED MAIL TO notify promptly the victim or the victim’s designated representative 21
of the Commission’s decision. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 23
October 1, 2025. 24