Bill Text: MS HB1693 | 2026 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Terms for certain conditional release; authorize MDOC to review for certain elderly inmates sentenced to life imprisonment.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Failed) 2026-02-03 - Died In Committee [HB1693 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2026-HB1693-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Corrections; Judiciary B
By: Representative Nelson
House Bill 1693
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-139, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS MAY SET THE TERMS OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE FOR AN INMATE WHO HAS RECEIVED A LIFE SENTENCE FOR CAPITAL MURER AND WHO HAS REACHED AGE 65 OR OLDER AND HAS SERVED A MINIMUM OF 15 YEARS OF HIS OR HER SENTENCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 47-5-139, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
47-5-139. (1) An inmate shall not be eligible for the earned time allowance if:
(a) The inmate was
sentenced to life imprisonment; but an inmate, except an inmate sentenced to
life imprisonment for capital murder, who has reached the age of sixty-five
(65) or older and who has served at least fifteen (15) years may * * *
be reviewed by the Mississippi Department of Corrections Records Department
for conditional release and the terms of the conditional release shall be set
by the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
(b) The inmate was convicted as a habitual offender under Sections 99-19-81 through 99-19-87;
(c) The inmate has forfeited his earned time allowance by order of the commissioner;
(d) The inmate was convicted of a sex crime; or
(e) The inmate has not served the mandatory time required for parole eligibility for a conviction of robbery or attempted robbery with a deadly weapon.
(2) An offender under two (2) or more consecutive sentences shall be allowed commutation based upon the total term of the sentences.
(3) All earned time shall be forfeited by the inmate in the event of escape and/or aiding and abetting an escape. The commissioner may restore all or part of the earned time if the escapee returns to the institution voluntarily, without expense to the state, and without act of violence while a fugitive from the facility.
(4) Any officer or employee who shall willfully violate the provisions of this section and be convicted therefor shall be removed from office or employment.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.
