S.F. No. 5278 - Summary

• Limits parole supervision to five years maximum and allows early final discharge after three years of compliant parole if the parolee is reliable and the board is satisfied they will remain law-abiding.

• Modifies the Supervised Release Board composition to include four governor-appointed members with corrections or criminal justice backgrounds, two members with neurology/psychology expertise for juvenile cases, and the commissioner as chair; limits reappointment to one additional two-year term.

• Requires the board to presume granting supervised release for inmates serving life sentences after reaching minimum term unless substantial evidence shows current dangerousness poses significant risk to public safety.

• Establishes a Medical Release Review Board with seven members including medical professionals, mental health providers, reentry specialists, formerly incarcerated persons, and victim advocates to oversee conditional medical releases for grave illnesses.

• Repeals mandatory life sentences without parole possibility for certain offenses; persons under 18 at time of offense must receive sentences with parole eligibility; effective August 1, 2024, and applies retroactively.