Bill Text: NJ A663 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Grants discretion to Parole Board in determining whether inmate should be released on parole.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-27 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [A663 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A663-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman NANCY F. MUNOZ
District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Grants discretion to Parole Board in determining whether inmate should be released on parole.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning parole and amending P.L.1979, c.441.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 9 of P.L.1979, c.441 (C.30:4-123.53) is amended to read as follows:
9. a. An adult inmate [shall] may be released on parole at the time of parole eligibility, unless information supplied in the report filed pursuant to section 10 of P.L.1979, c.441 (C.30:4-123.54) or developed or produced at a hearing held pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1979, c.441 (C.30:4-123.55) indicates by a preponderance of the evidence that the inmate has failed to cooperate in his or her own rehabilitation or that there is a reasonable expectation that the inmate will violate conditions of parole imposed pursuant to section 15 of P.L.1979, c.441 (C.30:4-123.59) if released on parole at that time. In reaching such determination, the board panel or board shall state on the record the reasons therefor.
For the purposes of this subsection, "failed to cooperate in his or her own rehabilitation" shall include, in the case of an inmate who suffers from mental illness as defined in section 2 of P.L.1987, c.116 (C.30:4-27.2) that does not require institutionalization, that the inmate failed to fully participate in or cooperate with all prescribed treatment offered during incarceration.
b. A juvenile inmate shall be released on parole when it shall appear that the juvenile, if released, will not cause injury to persons or substantial injury to property.
(cf: P.L.1998, c.112, s.1)
2. Section 12 of P.L.1979, c.441 (C.30:4-123.56) is amended to read as follows:
12. a. The board shall develop a schedule of future parole eligibility dates for adult inmates denied release at their eligibility date. In developing such schedule, particular emphasis shall be placed on the severity of the offense for which he was denied parole and on the characteristics of the offender, such as, but not limited to, the prior criminal record of the inmate and the need for continued incapacitation of the inmate, however, in no case shall any parole eligibility date scheduled pursuant to this subsection be more than three years following the date on which an inmate was denied release.
b. If the release on the eligibility date is denied, the board panel which conducted the hearing shall refer to the schedule published pursuant to subsection a., and include in its statement denying parole notice of the date of future parole consideration. If such date differs from the date otherwise established by the schedule, the board panel shall include particular reasons therefor, however, in no case shall such date be more than three years following the date on which the inmate was denied release. The future parole eligibility date shall not be altered to take into account remissions of sentence for good behavior and diligent application to work and other assignments; provided however, the future parole eligibility date may be altered pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1979, c. 441 (C.30:4-123.52).
c. An inmate [shall] may be released on parole on the new parole eligibility date unless information filed pursuant to a procedure identical to that set forth in section 10 of P.L.1979, c.441 (C.30:4-123.54) indicates by a preponderance of the evidence that the inmate has failed to cooperate in his or her own rehabilitation or that there is a reasonable expectation that the inmate will violate conditions of parole imposed pursuant to section 15 of P.L.1979, c.441 (C.30:4-123.59) if released on parole at that time. The determination of whether the inmate shall be released on the new parole eligibility date shall be made pursuant to the procedure set forth in section 11 of P.L.1979, c.441 (C.30:4-123.55) and this section.
For the purposes of this subsection, "failed to cooperate in his or her own rehabilitation" shall include, in the case of an inmate who suffers from mental illness as defined in section 2 of P.L.1987, c.116 (C.30:4-27.2) that does not require institutionalization, that the inmate failed to fully participate in or cooperate with all prescribed treatment offered during incarceration.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.330, s.6)
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill revises the standard for the granting of parole to inmates by the State Parole Board. Under current law, the parole board is required to release an adult inmate on parole at the time of parole eligibility, unless information supplied in the preparole report or developed or produced at a hearing indicates by a preponderance of the evidence that the inmate has failed to cooperate in his or her own rehabilitation or that there is a reasonable expectation that the inmate will violate conditions of parole if released on parole at that time. The same standard is applied to inmates who were denied release at their parole eligibility date when they are reconsidered at a future eligibility date.
This bill provides that the parole board is not required to release the inmate. The purpose of the bill is to give the Parole Board more discretion in determining whether an inmate is ready to be released back into society.
