TX HB5525

Requires the Board of Pardons and Paroles, in consultation with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, to develop separate parole guidelines specifically for inmates who committed offenses when under 18 years of age, prioritizing rehabilitation, education, mental health treatment, and reintegration support

Mandates parole panels consider the inmate's age at offense, rehabilitation progress, educational/vocational achievements, psychological evaluations, and input from professionals, family, and victims when reviewing youth offenders for parole

Requires parole panels to assess growth and maturity of youth offenders, recognizing diminished culpability of minors, hallmark features of youth, and greater capacity for change compared to adults, with age serving as a mitigating factor favoring release

Requires the Board to submit annual reports to the governor and legislature detailing the number of youth offenders considered and released, reintegration success rates, recidivism rates, and recommendations for improvement

Requires implementation of the new guidelines by September 1, 2026, with mandatory reconsideration of all previously denied parole cases for qualifying inmates, and requires the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to train Board members on best practices