This bill proposes to amend current law regarding parole eligibility for prisoners convicted of first-degree murder and serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Specifically, it allows individuals who are 60 years of age or older, have served a minimum of 18 years of their sentence, and have demonstrated good behavior to be eligible for parole. The bill modifies RSA 630:1-a, III by deleting the provision that states such individuals "shall not be eligible for parole at any time" and inserting language that makes them eligible for release on parole in accordance with RSA 651-A:7-a.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new section, RSA 651-A:7-a, which outlines the criteria for parole eligibility for first-degree murder convictions. It specifies that eligible individuals must not have committed any Class A or Class B violations in the prison within the last 10 years prior to their eligibility date. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and while it does not provide funding, it is estimated that it may impact around 15 individuals currently incarcerated for first-degree murder. The Department of Corrections has indicated that it cannot determine the exact fiscal impact due to insufficient data on the number of individuals who would qualify under this new legislation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 630:1-a