The bill amends Section 13-8-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 13-8, titled "Parole," to establish new criteria for parole eligibility for prisoners sentenced as adults for offenses committed prior to their eighteenth birthday. It specifies that such prisoners shall be eligible for parole review after serving a minimum of fifteen (15) years of imprisonment, unless they qualify for earlier eligibility under other provisions of law. This provision is designed to provide a pathway to parole for young offenders while maintaining the integrity of the parole system. The bill does not alter the eligibility for parole for prisoners who may qualify for it earlier than fifteen years.

Additionally, the act clarifies that it does not lengthen the parole eligibility for those already eligible under existing laws. The act will take effect upon passage and will apply retroactively to offenses occurring on or after January 1, 1991.

Statutes affected:
2308: 13-8-13