This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to enhance parole eligibility criteria for individuals convicted of murder-related offenses. It increases the minimum imprisonment term for second-degree murder from ten to twenty years, requiring inmates to serve at least twenty years before becoming eligible for parole. Additionally, the bill establishes new penalties for attempted murder, with first-degree attempts resulting in a prison term of ten to forty years and second-degree attempts incurring a term of five to twenty years. For inmates serving life sentences for first-degree murder, the minimum time before parole eligibility is raised from fifteen to twenty-five years. The bill also outlines conditions for parole consideration, including the completion of rehabilitation programs and the absence of prior violent felony convictions.

Moreover, the bill introduces procedural changes for parole hearings, requiring the Parole Board to notify the prosecuting attorney and consider the circumstances of the original conviction. Inmates must appear in person before the Parole Board, with exceptions for medical conditions, and the panel is responsible for documenting their decisions in writing. It mandates participation in a litter control program for parolees, unless deemed inappropriate, and requires the commissioner to provide a publicly accessible list of rehabilitative and educational programs available outside correctional institutions. The bill emphasizes collaboration among the Parole Board, sentencing judges, and prosecuting attorneys in matters related to pardons, reprieves, or commutations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 61-2-3, 61-11-8, 62-12-13