2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 15 - Criminal Procedure › §15:574.4.1. Parole consideration and hearings

RS 15:574.4.1 - Parole consideration and hearings
A.(1)(a) The parole hearings shall be conducted in a formal manner in accordance with the rules formulated by the committee and with the provisions of this Part. Before the parole of any prisoner is ordered, such prisoner shall appear before and be interviewed by the committee, except those incarcerated in parish prisons or parish correctional centers, in which case one committee member may conduct the interview. The committee may order a reconsideration of the case or a rehearing at any time.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning on August 1, 2024, the committee shall not consider a parole rehearing of any prisoner who is serving a sentence for any of the following offenses until at least four years after the denial of parole:
(i) Any crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) or sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541, for which the prisoner is serving a life sentence and for which the prisoner is eligible for parole pursuant to any of the provisions of R.S. 15:574.4.
(ii) Any crime that is both a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) and a sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541, for which the prisoner is serving a fixed term of years and for which the prisoner is eligible for parole pursuant to any of the provisions of R.S. 15:574.4.
(iii) Manslaughter (R.S. 14:31), for which the prisoner is eligible for parole pursuant to any of the provisions of R.S. 15:574.4.
(2) Persons wishing to provide testimony may appear before the committee on parole by means of teleconference or telephone communication.
B. The committee shall render its decision ordering or denying the release of the prisoner on parole within thirty days after the hearing. A parole shall be ordered only for the best interest of society, not as an award of clemency, and upon determination by the committee that there is reasonable probability that the prisoner is able and willing to fulfill the obligations of a law-abiding citizen so that he can be released without detriment to the community or to himself.
C. All paroles shall issue upon order of the committee and each order of parole shall recite the conditions thereof; provided, however, that before any prisoner is released on parole he shall be provided with a certificate of parole that enumerates the conditions of parole. These conditions shall be explained to the prisoner and the prisoner shall agree in writing to such conditions.
D.(1) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) or (3) of this Subsection, the release date of the prisoner shall be fixed by the committee, but such date shall not be later than six months after the parole hearing or the most recent reconsideration of the prisoner's case.
(2) If the committee on parole determines that it is necessary for the prisoner to complete one or more rehabilitative programs prior to his release to ensure public safety and enhance the prisoner's opportunity for success, the release date of the prisoner may be extended to no later than nine months after the parole hearing or the most recent reconsideration of the prisoner's case.
(3) When granting parole of a prisoner who was sentenced as a habitual offender pursuant to R.S. 15:529.1, if the committee on parole determines that it is necessary for the prisoner to participate in a work release program established pursuant to R.S. 15:1111, the release date of the prisoner may be extended to no later than one year after the parole hearing or the most recent reconsideration of the prisoner's case.
Acts 2008, No. 266, §2; Acts 2008, No. 337, §1; Acts 2009, No. 168, §2; Acts 2009, No. 182, §2; Acts 2010, No. 241, §§1 and 2; Acts 2012, No. 714, §8; Acts 2017, No. 70, §1; Acts 2017, No. 280, §3, eff. Nov. 1, 2017; Acts 2019, No. 369, §2; Acts 2020, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 6, §1, eff. Oct. 20, 2020; Acts 2022, No. 726, §1.