The proposed bill amends the Code of West Virginia to increase penalties and modify parole eligibility for homicide offenses, specifically second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. The minimum imprisonment term for second-degree murder will rise from ten to 15 years, and the maximum will increase from 40 to 60 years. For voluntary manslaughter, the minimum sentence will change from three to five years, while the maximum will go from 15 to 25 years. Additionally, individuals convicted of these crimes will not be eligible for parole until they have served at least 15 years of their sentence, an increase from the previous minimum of ten years. The bill also raises the minimum parole eligibility for life sentences from 10 to 20 years, and for those with prior felony convictions, from 15 to 25 years. It specifies that inmates convicted of first-degree murder after July 1, 2025, will not be eligible for parole until they have served 25 years.

Moreover, the bill enhances the structure and oversight of the parole process by ensuring that all information received by the Parole Board is permanently filed and that the Board has continuous access to inmates in state correctional facilities. It mandates that the Parole Board investigate applications for pardon, reprieve, or commutation upon the Governor's request, with prior notification to the sentencing judge and prosecuting attorney. Additionally, parolees will be required to participate in the county's litter control program unless deemed inappropriate by the Parole Board. The commissioner is also tasked with developing a publicly available list of rehabilitative and educational programs that inmates must complete as special conditions of their parole. Overall, these changes aim to enhance public safety and the effectiveness of the parole system for serious offenses.

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