MS SB2556

Establishes a 15-year time period for qualifying prior convictions under the habitual offender statute, counted from either the date of conviction (if not incarcerated) or the date of release from incarceration

Allows persons sentenced as habitual offenders before this act's effective date to be considered for parole if their sentence would have been reduced under the new provisions

Requires courts sentencing violent habitual offenders to life imprisonment to provide written explanation if deviating from life sentence and instead imposing the maximum term

Amends parole eligibility rules to permit parole consideration for habitual offenders convicted prior to this act who would have received reduced sentences under the new 15-year lookback provision

Effective date of July 1, 2021