MS HB979

Establishes eligibility requirement that persons convicted of manslaughter or aggravated assault must serve one-half (1/2) of their sentence before becoming eligible for earned-time allowance, trusty-time allowance, or meritorious earned-time allowance.

Amends Mississippi Code Section 47-5-139 to add manslaughter and aggravated assault convictions to the list of crimes disqualifying inmates from earned-time allowances until one-half of sentence is served.

Amends Section 47-5-138.1 to prevent offenders convicted of manslaughter or aggravated assault from receiving trusty-time allowances until one-half of their sentence is served.

Amends Section 47-5-142 to prohibit meritorious earned-time awards to offenders convicted of manslaughter or aggravated assault who have not completed one-half of their sentence.

Effective date is July 1, 2013.