This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to increase penalties and parole eligibility requirements for homicide offenses, specifically second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. The minimum term of imprisonment for second-degree murder is raised from ten to 15 years, while the maximum is increased from 40 to 60 years. Similarly, the minimum term for voluntary manslaughter is increased from three to five years, with the maximum raised from 15 to 25 years. Additionally, individuals convicted of these offenses must now serve a minimum of 15 years before becoming eligible for parole, and those sentenced to life imprisonment must serve at least 20 years before parole eligibility, up from the previous 10 years.

The bill also revises the parole eligibility criteria, particularly for inmates convicted of violent felonies or those involving firearms, introducing stricter conditions for parole eligibility, including successful completion of rehabilitation programs and a minimum service time before parole consideration. It outlines the responsibilities of the Parole Board regarding inmate release and rehabilitation, requiring a majority consensus for parole decisions and mandating that all related information be permanently filed. Furthermore, the Parole Board must investigate applications for pardon, reprieve, or commutation if requested by the Governor, and parolees are required to participate in a litter control program in their release county unless deemed inappropriate. The commissioner is also tasked with maintaining a publicly available list of rehabilitative and educational programs necessary for parole eligibility.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 61-2-3
Committee Substitute: 61-2-3, 61-2-4, 62-12-13