HOUSE BILL No. 4253

 

February 13, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Pastor and Meekhof and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

     A bill to amend 1953 PA 232, entitled

 

"Corrections code of 1953,"

 

by amending section 33 (MCL 791.233), as amended by 1998 PA 320.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 33. (1) The grant of a parole is subject to all of the

 

following:

 

     (a) A prisoner shall not be given liberty on granted parole

 

until the board has reasonable assurance, after consideration of

 

all of the facts and circumstances, including the prisoner's mental

 

and social attitude, that the prisoner will not become a menace to

 

society or to the public safety.

 


     (b) Except as provided in section 34a, a parole shall not be

 

granted to a prisoner other than a prisoner subject to disciplinary

 

time until the prisoner has served the minimum term imposed by the

 

court less allowances for good time or special good time to which

 

the prisoner may be entitled by statute, except that a prisoner

 

other than a prisoner subject to disciplinary time is eligible for

 

parole before the expiration of his or her minimum term of

 

imprisonment whenever the sentencing judge, or the judge's

 

successor in office, gives written approval of the parole of the

 

prisoner before the expiration of the minimum term of imprisonment.

 

     (c) Except as provided in section 34a, and notwithstanding the

 

provisions of subdivision (b), a parole shall not be granted to a

 

prisoner other than a prisoner subject to disciplinary time

 

sentenced for the commission of a crime described in section 33b(a)

 

to (cc) until the prisoner has served the minimum term imposed by

 

the court less an allowance for disciplinary credits as provided in

 

section 33(5) of 1893 PA 118, MCL 800.33. A prisoner described in

 

this subdivision is not eligible for special parole.

 

     (d) Except as provided in section 34a, a parole shall not be

 

granted to a prisoner subject to disciplinary time until the

 

prisoner has served the minimum term imposed by the court.

 

     (e) A prisoner shall not be released on parole until the

 

parole board has satisfactory evidence that arrangements have been

 

made for such honorable and useful employment as the prisoner is

 

capable of performing, for the prisoner's education, or for the

 

prisoner's care if the prisoner is mentally or physically ill or

 

incapacitated.

 


     (f) A prisoner whose minimum term of imprisonment is 2 years

 

or more shall not be released on parole unless he or she has either

 

earned a high school diploma, or earned its equivalent in the form

 

of a general education development (GED) certificate, or earned an

 

employment readiness certificate. The director of the department

 

may waive the restriction imposed by this subdivision as to any

 

prisoner who is over the age of 65 or who was gainfully employed

 

immediately before committing the crime for which he or she was

 

incarcerated. The department of corrections may also waive the

 

restriction imposed by this subdivision as to any prisoner who has

 

a learning disability, who does not have the necessary proficiency

 

in English, or who for some other reason that is not the fault of

 

the prisoner is unable to successfully complete the requirements

 

for a high school diploma, or a general education development

 

certificate, or an employment readiness certificate. If the

 

prisoner does not have the necessary proficiency in English, the

 

department of corrections shall provide English language training

 

for that prisoner necessary for the prisoner to begin working

 

toward the completion of the requirements for a general education

 

development certificate or employment readiness certificate. This

 

subdivision applies to prisoners sentenced for crimes committed

 

after December 15, 1998. In providing an educational program

 

leading to a high school degree, or general education development

 

certificate, or employment readiness certificate, the department

 

shall give priority to prisoners sentenced for crimes committed on

 

or before December 15, 1998.

 

     (2) Paroles-in-custody to answer warrants filed by local or

 


out-of-state agencies, or immigration officials, are permissible if

 

an accredited agent of the agency filing the warrant calls for the

 

prisoner to be paroled in custody.

 

     (3) Pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969,

 

1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, the parole board may promulgate

 

rules not inconsistent with this act with respect to conditions to

 

be imposed upon prisoners paroled under this act.