The bill amends the "Parole Act of 1979" to enhance the clarity and efficiency of parole requirements and procedures. It introduces new definitions such as "preliminary hearing," "revocation hearing," and "technical parole violation," which aim to clarify the processes for determining parole violations. The legislation establishes a system for earning and forfeiting parole compliance credits based on adherence to parole conditions, including provisions for retroactive credits. Additionally, it mandates the Parole Board to create a uniform information system for monitoring the parole process and requires annual reports on recidivism and medical parole statistics. The bill also repeals existing laws related to violations by parolees released due to overcrowding, streamlining the overall process.

Moreover, the bill modifies the criteria for parole eligibility and revocation procedures, shifting the standard to assess the likelihood of committing a crime if released, rather than focusing solely on past behavior. It ensures that multiple violations from a single incident are not treated as separate violations and expands the list of violations that cannot solely lead to revocation. The legislation also emphasizes the importance of timely notifications during revocation hearings and guarantees that parolees are informed of their rights, including the right to legal representation. Overall, the amendments aim to improve the fairness and transparency of the parole system while addressing public safety concerns.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 30:4-123.48, 30:4-123.53, 30:4-123.55, 30:4-123.56, 30:4-123.60, 30:4-123.62, 30:4-123.63, 30:4-123.64, 30:4-123.66, 2C:29-9, 30:4-123.76