This bill amends existing law to allow individuals convicted of crimes committed before their 18th birthday to petition the indeterminate sentence review board for early release after reaching the age of 24. The legislation builds on the 2019 "JR to 25" initiative, which extended the time individuals could remain in juvenile rehabilitation facilities from age 21 to 25, aiming to reduce recidivism through enhanced rehabilitative programming. The bill specifies that eligible individuals must not have been convicted of any class A or B felony offenses after turning 18 and must not have committed any serious infractions in the year prior to their petition.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for the department to provide rental vouchers to successful petitioners to facilitate their safe release, along with a requirement to maintain a list of approved housing providers. It also establishes that offenders released under this act will be subject to supervision and can be returned to incarceration for violations of community custody conditions. The act applies retroactively to individuals currently incarcerated, ensuring that those affected by the changes can benefit from the new provisions regardless of their offense or conviction date.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 9.94A.730