An Act to revise the eligibility requirements for compassionate parole under certain circumstances.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:
Section 1. That 24-15A-55 be AMENDED.
24-15A-55. Eligibility for compassionate parole.
Notwithstanding any contrary provision in chapter 24-13, 24-15, or 24-15A, an inmate who:
(1) Has a terminal illness;
(2) Is seriously ill and not likely to recover;
(3) Requires extensive medical care or significant chronic medical care;
(4) Is at least sixty-five years
of age, has served at least ten consecutive years of the inmate's
sentence incarcerated, whose current sentences are for convictions of
a Class 3 felony or below
lower
and whose
medical care needs are at least double the average annual medical
cost of the inmate population; or
(5) Is at least seventy years of age and has served at least thirty consecutive years of the inmate's sentence incarcerated; and
(6) Is not serving a capital punishment sentence;
is eligible for compassionate parole consideration.
During a global pandemic as declared by the World Health Organization, eligibility for compassionate parole consideration is extended to all inmates whose current sentences are for convictions of a Class 3 felony or lower for crimes that are not violent as provided in 24-15A-32.