MO SB389

Board of Probation and Parole must thoroughly review cases of offenders serving sentences exceeding 15 years, including life without parole, who have no prior felony convictions, have served at least 15 years, and exhausted all appeals in state and federal court.

Board shall prepare a report to the governor with a recommendation to grant or deny executive clemency within a reasonable time, with a copy provided to the offender.

Offenders determined to have experienced physical, mental, emotional, or sexual abuse, or whose age, maturity level, and contributing influences affected their judgment at the time of the offense, become eligible for parole after serving at least 15 years.

Board must consider eight specific criteria when making decisions: length of time served, prison record and rehabilitation efforts, evidence of abuse, offender's role and violence degree in the crime, plea bargain history, sentence severity, age and maturity at time of crime, and adequacy of parole plan.

Cases reviewed under this section must be revisited every three years while the offender remains incarcerated, and released offenders remain under board supervision for a duration determined by the board.