HB6622 Summary: Youthful Offender Parole

• Allows persons under 25 at time of offense who have served 15+ years (for life sentence) or 20+ years (for determinate sentence) to petition circuit court for sentencing review and possible sentence reduction.

• Establishes Youthful Offender Parole Board as independent authority to conduct parole hearings for eligible persons; board consists of 9 members including 6 with juvenile justice expertise and 3 formerly incarcerated persons.

• Court must consider mitigating factors including age at offense, behavior during incarceration, participation in programs, remorse, and diminished culpability of youth when determining whether to reduce sentence.

• Creates presumption that eligible persons shall be released on parole unless 3-member board panel unanimously finds by clear and convincing evidence that continued incarceration is necessary to protect public safety.

• Applies retroactively to persons sentenced before effective date who were under 25 at time of offense and serving 20+ years; allows second petition after 10 years if first petition denied.