HB 439 Summary

• Creates the Elderly Rehabilitated Inmate Supervision Program authorizing the Parole Commission to approve early release of inmates who are at least 60 years old, have served 25+ consecutive years, are not eligible for parole, were not sentenced for capital felonies, and have no disciplinary reports in the prior 6 months.

• Requires inmates to petition with documentation including release plan, medical history, criminal history with responsibility assessment, substance abuse and mental health history, disciplinary record, prison program participation, and gang affiliation renunciation.

• Mandates victims receive notice within 30 days of petition filing, 30 days before commission meetings, and 30 days after decisions, with opportunity to make oral or written statements regarding release decisions.

• Requires released inmates to complete 10 hours of community service per year served, submit to electronic monitoring for at least 1 year, and pay restitution to victims; supervision length equals remaining sentence time including gain-time credits.

• Establishes a Restorative Justice Pilot Program at one women's prison and two men's prisons, prioritizing eligible elderly inmates, patterned after juvenile justice restorative centers.