HB 1517

AN ACT TO BE KNOWN AS THE "MISSISSIPPI SECOND CHANCE ACT"; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE PAROLE ELIGIBILITY FOR PERSONS SENTENCED FOR CRIMES OF VIOLENCE; TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONS SENTENCED FOR CERTAIN VIOLENT OFFENSES SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE AFTER SERVING FIFTY PERCENT OR FIFTEEN YEARS, WHICHEVER IS LESS, OF THE SENTENCE OR SENTENCES IMPOSED; TO PROVIDE PAROLE ELIGIBILITY FOR PERSONS SENTENCED FOR MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE AFTER SERVING TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AND FOR PERSONS SENTENCED FOR MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE AFTER SERVING TWENTY YEARS; TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-3.2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF YEARS SERVED FOR COMMITTING CERTAIN CRIMES OF VIOLENCE BEFORE BEING RELEASED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 99-19-81, 99-19-83, AND 99-19-87, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE PAROLE ELIGIBILITY FOR PERSONS SENTENCED AS HABITUAL OFFENDERS AFTER SERVING TEN YEARS; TO PROVIDE THAT THESE AMENDMENTS SHALL APPLY RETROACTIVELY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.