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| Bills push key changes for state Parole Board |
| By clarionledger.com - Jimmie E. Gates |
| Published: 02/21/2012 |
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Missippi -- The state Parole Board would get an executive director, and members would no longer get a salary, only per diem and travel expenses, under a bill filed Monday in the state Legislature. Another proposal would require inmates to serve one-third of their sentences before becoming eligible for parole instead of the current one-fourth. Also, the bill says the corrections commissioner would have to recommend an inmate for parole to the Parole Board. Currently, the board gets status reports from inmates' case managers, unit administrators and others in considering whether to grant parole. Rep. Mark Formby, R-Picayune, is the principal author of both bills, which was referred to committees on Monday, the last day for filing general bills and constitutional amendments to be considered in the 2012 session. Formby said the current five-member Parole Board has done an excellent job and members deserve the pay they receive. But with House Bill 745 changing how much time prisoners must serve before becoming eligible for parole, the board won't have as much work to do, according to Formby. "This would be a total change in the way we approach parole," Formby said of the legislation. "There would be fewer paroles." Fewer paroles, however, could ultimately result in more people in prison and cause corrections costs to increase. Currently, there are 21,445 state inmates and the corrections budget is $339 million. About 7,000 people are on parole now and another 2,000 were eligible but did not receive it. Read More. |
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