SB 26-158

Senate Bill 26-158, also known as the Youthful Offender Early Parole Procedure, allows young offenders under 21 who have completed a specialized rehabilitation program and been convicted of certain serious crimes to apply for early parole. The state board of parole can approve or deny these applications if the governor doesn't make a decision within 60 days. This bill also mandates that the rehabilitation programs include acknowledging the impact on victims and addressing the offender's own trauma. Since it has been signed into law, young offenders who meet the criteria now have an additional pathway to early release after completing their program.

Official Summary

The act adds the state board of parole as an entity that may approve an application for early parole for an offender who has successfully completed a specialized program as provided in current law. The offender must have been convicted of a certain predicate felony and committed the felony when they were younger than 21 years old.     The state board of parole can approve or deny the application if the governor has not acted on the application within 60 days after receiving the board's recommendation. If the governor acts on the application within 60 days, the governor's decision is final. If the governor does not act on the application, the state board of parole's decision is final.     Under current law, there is a specialized program for juveniles and young adults convicted as adults that must include components that allow an offender to experience placement with more independence in daily life. The act requires the specialized program to include programming that requires an offender to acknowledge the impact of crime on victims and the ongoing trauma that crime survivors experience, as well as the offender's own trauma.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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