Bill Text: MS SB2453 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Gubernatorial pardon; provide for notice to victim through SAVIN system.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2020-03-03 - Died In Committee [SB2453 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2020-SB2453-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Judiciary, Division B; Elections

By: Senator(s) Wiggins

Senate Bill 2453

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 7-1-69, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR NOTICE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO A VICTIM OR VICTIM'S REPRESENTATIVE WHEN A GUBERNATORIAL PARDON IS ISSUED TO THE VICTIM'S PERPETRATOR IF THE VICTIM OR VICTIM'S REPRESENTATIVE IS DULY REGISTERED WITH THE STATEWIDE AUTOMATED VICTIM INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATION (SAVIN) SYSTEM; TO AMEND SECTIONS 99-45-1 AND 99-45-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  The following shall be codified as Section 7-1-69, Mississippi Code of 1972:

     7-1-69.  When under the authority of Section 124, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, the Governor shall grant a reprieve or pardon, the Governor shall cause notice to be given to the statewide automated victim information and notification (SAVIN) system created under Section 99-45-1 to the end that a victim or victim's representative who is duly registered and compliant with the SAVIN system shall receive notice of the reprieve or pardon.

     SECTION 2.  Section 99-45-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     99-45-1.  The Department of Corrections shall establish a statewide automated victim information and notification (SAVIN) system that will do the following:

          (a)  Automatically notify a registered victim via * * *their the victim's choice of telephone, letter, or email when any of the following events affect an offender housed in the Department of Corrections or any county jail in the state:

               (i)  Is transferred or assigned to another facility;

              (ii)  Is transferred to the custody of another agency outside the state;

              (iii)  Is given a different security classification;

              (iv)  Is released on temporary leave or otherwise;

              (v)  Is discharged;

              (vi)  Has escaped; * * *or

              (vii)  Has been served with a protective order that was requested by the victim;

              (viii)  Has been issued a pardon or reprieve by the Governor for the offense against the registered victim.

          (b)  Automatically notify a registered victim via * * * their the victim's choice of telephone, letter, or email, when an offender has:

              (i)  An upcoming court event where the victim is entitled to be present;

              (ii)  An upcoming parole or pardon hearing;

              (iii)  A change in status of * * * their the offender's parole or probation status including:

                   1.  A change in * * * their the offender's supervision status; or

                   2.  A change in * * * their the offender's address.

          (c)  Automatically notify a registered victim via * * *   their the victim's choice of telephone, letter, or email when a sex offender has:

              (i)  Updated his profile information with the state sex offender registry;

              (ii)  Become noncompliant with the state sex offender registry.

          (d)  Permit a crime victim to receive the most recent status report for an offender in the Department of Corrections, county jail, or sex offender registry by calling the SAVIN system on a toll free telephone number as well as by accessing the SAVIN system via a public web site.

          (e)  All victims calling the SAVIN program will be given the option to have live operator assistance to use the program on a twenty-four-hour, three-hundred-sixty-five-day per year basis.

          (f)  Permit a crime victim to register or update the victim's registration information for the SAVIN system by calling a toll-free telephone number or accessing a public web site.

     SECTION 3.  Section 99-45-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     99-45-3.  Participation in the SAVIN program and making offender and case data available on a timely basis to the SAVIN program will satisfy the Governor's, Department of Corrections', sheriff's, and prosecuting attorney's obligation to notify the crime victim of an offender's custody status * * * and, the status of the offender's upcoming court events and of any gubernatorial pardon or reprieve.

     SECTION 4.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.

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