Bill Text: MS HB314 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Department of Corrections; require to provide certain notice to certain city before offender is released.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2016-02-23 - Died In Committee [HB314 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2016-HB314-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Corrections
By: Representative Banks
House Bill 314
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-177, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO PROVIDE THE CITY OF JACKSON CERTAIN NOTICE BEFORE AN OFFENDER IS RELEASED TO THE CITY; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO ESTABLISH A CERTAIN PILOT PROGRAM WITH THE CITY CONCERNING OFFENDER RE-ENTRY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 47-5-177, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
47-5-177. (1) At least fifteen (15) days prior to the release of an offender from the custody of the department because of discharge, parole, pardon, temporary personal leave or pass, or otherwise, except for sickness or death in the offender's family, the director of records of the department shall give written or electronic notice of such release to the sheriff of the county and to the chief of police of the municipality where the offender was convicted. If the offender is paroled to a county other than the county of conviction, the director of records shall give written or electronic notice of the release to the sheriff, district attorney and circuit judge of the county and to the chief of police of the municipality where the offender is paroled and to the sheriff of the county and to the chief of police of the municipality where the offender was convicted. The department shall notify the parole officer of the county where the offender is paroled or discharged to probation of any chronic mental disorder incurred by the offender, of any type of infectious disease for which the offender has been examined and treated, and of any medications provided to the offender for such conditions.
(2) The commissioner shall require the director of records to clearly identify the notice of release of an offender who has been convicted of arson at any time. The fact that the offender to be released had been convicted of arson at any time shall appear prominently on the notice of release and the sheriff shall notify all officials who are responsible for investigation of arson within the county of such offender's release and the chief of police shall notify all such officials within the municipality of such offender's release.
(3) In addition to the notice requirements prescribed under this section, the Department of Corrections shall directly notify the chief of police of the City of Jackson prior to the release of any offender who will be released in the city.
SECTION 2. As part of the state's initiative of assisting ex-offenders into re-entry, the Department of Corrections may conduct a pilot program utilizing the City of Jackson's Fresh Start Program to determine the best services and best practices for ex-offenders.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.
