MN HF3657

Establishes a program allowing inmates to petition the Commissioner of Corrections for early release, with eligible petitions reviewed by panels of three judges without stated reasons required for commissioner veto.

Inmates must serve at least 60 percent of their sentence or 18 years for life sentences to be eligible; inmates with life without parole sentences are ineligible.

Release panels must consider public safety, inmate readiness, program participation, crime severity, and victim impact when reviewing petitions, with approved inmates released within six weeks and subject to supervised release conditions.

Requires annual reports by February 1 to legislative committees detailing applications, vetoes, approvals, demographic data, crime types, and recidivism rates for released inmates.

Appropriates funds in fiscal year 2017 for judge compensation, release panel expenses, and supervised release agents or county grants.