MN SF976

Commissioner of Corrections gains authority to conditionally release nonviolent controlled substance offenders who meet specified eligibility criteria before their scheduled release date.

Eligible offenders must have served at least 36 months or one-half of their sentence (whichever is less), committed the crime due to addiction rather than profit, successfully completed a certified chemical dependency treatment program, and have no prior violent crime convictions within the past ten years.

Department of Corrections must offer eligible offenders a chemical dependency treatment program within 160 days of imprisonment, featuring structured daily schedules, educational and vocational training, and individualized chemical use assessments.

Commissioner may deny release if it poses danger to the public and may rescind conditional release without a hearing if continuation poses danger; offenders must sign a contract agreeing to random drug and alcohol testing, electronic or home monitoring, and aftercare conditions.

Effective July 1, 2013, and applies to persons imprisoned on or after that date.