PAROLE: MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS S.B. 474: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 474 (as introduced 4-28-09)
Sponsor: Senator Wayne Kuipers
Committee: Judiciary


Date Completed: 4-28-09

CONTENT
The bill would amend the Corrections Code to provide that the parole board would have to require a prisoner to meet all of the following conditions before the board placed the prisoner on parole:

-- The prisoner showed that he or she had not used controlled substances illegally or abused alcohol while incarcerated during the preceding three years.
-- If the prisoner had a history of drug or alcohol abuse, he or she had a specific, detailed plan for drug or alcohol treatment while on parole.
-- If mental health treatment would be appropriate for the prisoner, he or she had a specific, detailed plan for receiving that treatment while on parole.
-- The prisoner had a specific, detailed plan for employment upon release on parole and showed that he or she had the job skills appropriate for that employment.
-- The prisoner showed that he or she would be assisted in reentering the community where he or she would reside by individuals living in that community, such as family members, clergy, and counselors.
-- The prisoner obtained a valid birth certificate.


This requirement would be in addition to any other requirements of the Code pertaining to the placement of a prisoner on parole.


MCL 791.235 Legislative Analyst: Suzanne Lowe

FISCAL IMPACT
To the extent that prisoners who would otherwise be paroled would not meet the requirements under the bill, fewer prisoners would be paroled. This would result in an increase in the prison population. In 2008, the parole board granted parole to 13,364 prisoners, and 11,557 prisoners were released on parole. The State would incur the cost of incarceration in a State facility at an average annual cost of $32,000, and incur reduced costs of parole supervision at an average annual cost of $2,000.

Fiscal Analyst: Lindsay Hollander

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb474/0910