MS HB950

Reenacts sections 47-5-701 through 47-5-729 of the Mississippi Code establishing the Prison Overcrowding Emergency Powers Act, which allows the Governor to declare a prison system overcrowding emergency and advance parole eligibility dates for qualified inmates.

Declares a prison system overcrowding state of emergency when the prison population exceeds 95% of operating capacity for 30 consecutive days and the Department of Corrections and State Parole Board have fully utilized their powers to reduce population or expand capacity.

Permits the Governor to order advancement of parole eligibility dates between 30 and 90 days for qualified inmates, defined as those not convicted of serious crimes (murder, kidnapping, arson, armed robbery, rape, sexual offenses, or deadly weapon offenses) and within a specified number of days of their parole eligibility date.

Requires the Commissioner of Corrections to report weekly during emergencies on prison population and allows the Governor to declare the emergency terminated when population falls to or below 95% of operating capacity for 7 consecutive days; conditionally advanced parole dates reset to original dates for inmates not released.

Extends the repealer date for the Prison Overcrowding Emergency Powers Act from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2028, and makes the act effective July 1, 2025.