MS SB2646

Establishes the Juvenile Offender Parole and Rehabilitation Act to provide meaningful opportunity for parole consideration to all offenders who were under age 18 at the time of their crimes, regardless of offense type.

Raises the age of adulthood from 17 to 18 years old for purposes of parole eligibility and related statutes.

Requires juvenile offenders to be eligible for parole after serving 50% of their sentence or 20 years, whichever is less, and mandates a parole hearing before the Parole Board before release.

Requires the Department of Corrections to develop individualized case plans for all juvenile offenders focusing on rehabilitation and risk reduction, with quarterly progress reports to the Parole Board.

Establishes a Youthful Offender Unit at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility to house offenders age 17 and under separately from adults, with daily rehabilitative, educational, and recreational programming.