The bill amends Section 13-8-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 13-8 entitled "Parole," specifically addressing parole eligibility for life prisoners and prisoners with lengthy sentences. The bill outlines the conditions under which a parole permit may be issued to prisoners serving life sentences, including those convicted of first- or second-degree murder on various dates, with minimum years served ranging from 10 to 25 years before parole eligibility. It also specifies that parole permits for life sentences can only be issued by a unanimous vote of the parole board with at least four members present. Additionally, the bill addresses parole eligibility for prisoners convicted of escape or attempted escape, adding more years to the required time served before parole eligibility, and for prisoners sentenced consecutively to more than one life term for crimes occurring after certain dates.

The bill introduces a new subsection (f), which provides that prisoners sentenced as adults for offenses committed before their eighteenth birthday are eligible for parole review after serving no fewer than 15 years of imprisonment, regardless of other general or public laws, but excluding sentences under chapter 19.2 of title 12. This provision is not applicable if the prisoner is entitled to earlier parole eligibility under any other law. The bill is set to take effect upon passage and will be applied retroactively and prospectively to all offenses occurring on or after January 1, 1991. The legislative explanation clarifies that this act would allow parole eligibility after 15 years for those who committed offenses before turning 18 and were sentenced as adults, without lengthening parole eligibility if the prisoner is eligible for parole earlier than 15 years.

Statutes affected:
301: 13-8-13